DOI Heft:
No. 239 (February 1913)
DOI Artikel:Baldry, Alfred Lys: The paintings and drawings of Frank Mura
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21160#0028
Frank Mtira
It would be possible, perhaps, to charge him character who can withstand what can be termed
with an almost excessive reticence, for he has been the exhibition influence. Even the strong man,
curiously shy of availing himself of the means by who is sufficiently sure of himself to refuse to alter
which the generality of artists aim at securing his artistic standpoint or to change his methods so
popular attention. He has exhibited comparatively as to make them more pleasing to the crowd, may
little and he has sent few of his works to those in one of his weaker moments pause to consider
public galleries which make the display of con- the effect of an exhibition on his work and stoop
temporary art their special business. But this to a coarsening of his art with the idea that thereby
aloofness has not kept Mr. Mura from being he will enable it to hold its own better in the
recognised by collectors as a man who counts, and hurly-burly of a discordant show,
counts very definitely among our modern artists, Mr. Mura's allegiance to the greater principles of
and it has not diminished the estimation in which pictorial practice has, however, never been shaken
he is held by people who judge a work of art by its by any considerations of this sort. The work he
own merits rather than by the popular view which has exhibited, when he -has made his occasional
is taken of it. He has made his position without appearances in public, has been done to satisfy his
the advertisement of exhibitions, and this position own fastidious preferences for a particular type of
is probably all the stronger for that reason; he has picture production, and not to overpower by its
succeeded, as an artist should, by sheer strength of assertiveness of manner its not less assertive neigh-
personality, and not by currying favour with the bours on the gallery walls. Therefore he has not
world which regards art as an amusement rather lost any of his refinement of method, and he has
than a subject for serious study. not diminished that vigorous independence of out-
Indeed, there is this to be said for Mr. Mura's look which is, and always has been, one of his
avoidance of exhibitions, that he has escaped the happiest qualities as a painter. He gives us art in
temptation to modify his view of art to please a which he believes himself, art that with all its
popular demand. The habit of painting for ex- restraint and sobriety, its delicacy and elusive
hibitions has only too often a very marked effect charm, is convinced, direct and spontaneous, and
upon the quality of an artist's production, and it is entirely significant in its masculine clearness of
only the very strong man with an unusual sincerity purpose. He gives us, in fact, the best that he
of conviction and more than ordinary force of can do, and this best is so excellent that no one
"l'abreuvoir, Abbeville"
6
FROM THE OIL PAINTING by FRANK MURA
It would be possible, perhaps, to charge him character who can withstand what can be termed
with an almost excessive reticence, for he has been the exhibition influence. Even the strong man,
curiously shy of availing himself of the means by who is sufficiently sure of himself to refuse to alter
which the generality of artists aim at securing his artistic standpoint or to change his methods so
popular attention. He has exhibited comparatively as to make them more pleasing to the crowd, may
little and he has sent few of his works to those in one of his weaker moments pause to consider
public galleries which make the display of con- the effect of an exhibition on his work and stoop
temporary art their special business. But this to a coarsening of his art with the idea that thereby
aloofness has not kept Mr. Mura from being he will enable it to hold its own better in the
recognised by collectors as a man who counts, and hurly-burly of a discordant show,
counts very definitely among our modern artists, Mr. Mura's allegiance to the greater principles of
and it has not diminished the estimation in which pictorial practice has, however, never been shaken
he is held by people who judge a work of art by its by any considerations of this sort. The work he
own merits rather than by the popular view which has exhibited, when he -has made his occasional
is taken of it. He has made his position without appearances in public, has been done to satisfy his
the advertisement of exhibitions, and this position own fastidious preferences for a particular type of
is probably all the stronger for that reason; he has picture production, and not to overpower by its
succeeded, as an artist should, by sheer strength of assertiveness of manner its not less assertive neigh-
personality, and not by currying favour with the bours on the gallery walls. Therefore he has not
world which regards art as an amusement rather lost any of his refinement of method, and he has
than a subject for serious study. not diminished that vigorous independence of out-
Indeed, there is this to be said for Mr. Mura's look which is, and always has been, one of his
avoidance of exhibitions, that he has escaped the happiest qualities as a painter. He gives us art in
temptation to modify his view of art to please a which he believes himself, art that with all its
popular demand. The habit of painting for ex- restraint and sobriety, its delicacy and elusive
hibitions has only too often a very marked effect charm, is convinced, direct and spontaneous, and
upon the quality of an artist's production, and it is entirely significant in its masculine clearness of
only the very strong man with an unusual sincerity purpose. He gives us, in fact, the best that he
of conviction and more than ordinary force of can do, and this best is so excellent that no one
"l'abreuvoir, Abbeville"
6
FROM THE OIL PAINTING by FRANK MURA