Studio: international art (42.1908)

Studio-Talk

The art of Susan F. Crawford is familiar to
lovers of black-and-white, her work being found at
many of the important exhibitions, including those
held at Burlington House. But although most
favourably known as etcher, the artist by no means
limits her activities to the use of the needle, her
work in the oil medium, particularly when quaint
architecture forms the subject, being distinguished
by charming feeling and sympathy. Antiquity
makes a strong appeal to Miss Crawford, and
amongst the old-world relics at Edinburgh and
Stirling, and the early feudal castles scattered over
the greater part of Scotland, she finds a rich field for
the exercise of her genius. Old Drummond Castle,
the Perthshire seat of the Earl of Ancaster, is
one of the best preserved of the ancient Scottish
strongholds ; the artist has faithfully depicted
the quaint architectural features that have so
long been one of the chief attractions of the
district of Crieff. Argyll's Lodging is in-
teresting in many ways, but chiefly because
it is perhaps the finest example of "Town
House" architecture in the old Scottish
style extant. Like many of the seventeenth-
century houses still in use, it had periods of
vicissitude, yet it stands to-day, a worthy
monument to the architect, Sir Anthony
Alexander, second son of the Earl of Stirling,
who enjoyed more than local renown as
Master of Works to King James VI. of
Scotland (James I. of England). Built in
1632' for the architect's brother, it became
the property of Stirling Corporation in 1664,
but two years afterwards it was acquired by
the Earl of Argyll, who, completing the quad-
rangle, connected it with his own house, a
building of much earlier date. It was acquired
by the Crown about 1800, and is now used
as a military hospital to the Castle garrison.
The etching faithfully conveys the character-
istics of the old Scottish style that is being
largely revived in the domestic architecture
of to-day.

Miss Dewar's work, seen at the recent
exhibition of the Glasgow Society of Lady
Artists, is interesting for other reasons than
because of an aesthetic value; there is an
inner meaning, a reflection of the earnest
student, diligent in pursuit of the secrets of
history and life, and quick to convey them
by a charming symbolism that is easy of
interpretation. Take the two book-plates
illustrated, the one with the Crusader's
316

motto and that peculiar quadruple sign at the
top, the other with the roses. " Non sine pulvere "
(Not without dust) indicates the Crusader's idea
of campaign, while the sword and the cross and the
heart are all significant. In the middle ages, when
pilgrims returned from the Holy Land, they wore a
simple shell emblem, and all men knew that they
had undertaken a sacred mission, hence the two
shells introduced in this design. " Swastika," the
highest, the fourfold sign, is to be met with in
nearly all the mysticisms over the world : its use by
the artist here is most appropriate. The rose is
emblematic of earthly love; the sweet flower
proceeds from the heart, intertwines the golden
circlet, and reaches by the star of hope to the very
highest, to divinity. J. T.

"OLD DRUMMOND CASTLE FROM THE ETCHING BY

STIRLINGSHIRE " SUSAN F. CRAWFORD