Studio: international art (53.1911)

Studio^Talk

the sketch is simple and yet dignified. The King
is represented standing up, in the familiar aspect
as yachtsman, wearing as head-gear simply a
yachting-cap. At his feet the form of a supple and
graceful young girl represents the town of Cannes
strewing flowers before him with a most graceful
gesture. It is, in fact, a work worthy both of the
King whose memory it perpetuates and of the artist
whose work it is. L. H.

An interesting " one-man show " recently held
here was that of the Spaniard Vasquez Diaz, who
exhibits a very personal talent. This artist has
painted with great fidelity the characteristic aspects
of nature and of humanity in his country. Above
all, he strives for realism. Toreadors, gitanas and
peasants he paints just as he sees them, without
thought of improving them, of making them appear
more gay, but with the desire simply to give a
faithful transcription of the life around him. I
was much pleased also with this artist's drawings,
so full of vigour and style. H. F.

BRUSSELS.—The eminent sculptor ot
Brussels, -Charles van der Stappen, died
recently while yet his fine talents seemed
to promise still greater and more power-
ful achievements. He had a considerable influence
upon the evolution of the Belgian School, not only

"EVA" BY D. VASQUEZ DIAZ

74

"BOHEME" BY I). VASQUEZ DIAZ

by reason of the value of his productions, but also
on account of the force of his teaching. This son
of a simple workman, a common plasterer, was
able, thanks to his indomitable will, to elevate
himself to the summit of his art, and one is
astounded to learn that this highly cultured artist,
this brilliant conversationalist whose utterances
rested upon a foundation of solid knowledge, was
hardly able to be given a board-school education.

Fortuitous circumstances brought the young man
to the studio of the painter, Jean Portaels, where
at that time E. Wauters, Agneesens, and Verheyden
were working, and it was owing, perhaps, to this
that he escaped from the conventionality resultant
at that period from an erroneous comprehension of
antique sculpture. He was one of the first to join
that group of sculptors in France, P. Dubois,
Mercie, Chapu, who sought in Florentine Renais-
sance work for their refined observation and elegant
execution; but the Brussels artist never lost the
rugged qualities of his race, and so came to
avoid the dangers of affectation.

The fine and instructive qualities in Van der
Stappen's work come from a close study of all
aspects and manifestations of life and of their
application to decorative art. Later one recognises