Studio: international art (62.1914)

Recent Enamels by Alexander Fisher

SOME RECENT ENAMELS BY a seemingly humble and small beginning. The
\l EX WIM'Ix FISHER prayer-1.....k cover shown on the same page is in

bassetaille enamel on silver. In this process the
AMONG the increasing though still compara- silver is carved in relief and covered with trans-
tively small number of artists who now practise parent enamels, the whole being then "fired." It
the art of enamelling upon metal Mr. Alexander is a process which gives much brilliancy and lustre
Fisher occupies a distinguished position, and to to the enamel, but it is impossible for even a
him in his capacity as a teacher and practitioner colour reproduction, however excellent, to convey
is due in large measure the revival of interest in this lustrous effect. The same remark, of course,
this i branch of art which has taken place in applies with greater force to the black and white
the British Isles (luring the past do/en years or illustration on this page that of a panel executed
so. .The articles which he contributed to this with translucent enamels in grisaille over cobalt,
magazine a few years ago, and his more recent The subject is taken from a poem by Young, which
book on the subject, have been very instrumental runs :

in encouraging others to devote themselves to this " Where do you come from my little dear ?

fascinating branch of artistic production, and their 0ut the everywhere into here."

pursuit of it has been made easier by his rare The circular panel called Spring and the rect
knowledge and experience of the various methods angular one called The Garden are both executed by
and processes—some of them extremely complex— the Limoges method with paillons of silver and gold,
which are involved in the art. His
own productions, diverse both in de-
sign and method of execution, are ffif%^,*;;:^j£w^^
familiar to all who visit the Royal
Ai ademy exhibitions and those of the
Arts and Crafts Society, as well as
others. In the present exhibition at
Burlington House he has an excellent
portrait of a lady, in which the flesh
tints are admirably rendered. The
Academy accepts but few examples of
•enamelling each year, and those which
find their way into its galleries are
chiefly works in which the medium is
•employed for purposes of a more or
less pictorial character, but one may
hope that the time is not far distant
when a more ample representation
will he accorded to works ol this

character.

The examples of Mr. Fisher's work
which are here illustrated are selected
from a number of things executed
recently according to various methods.
The panel called The Spirit of the
Opal belongs to the lid of a large
jewel casket, and here gold and silver
in the form of small pieces or
" paillons " are used over copper, as
is also the case with The Glorification
■of the Nativity, in which the enamelling
is executed by the Limoges method,
•amplified and extended in the treat

ment. The central idea in this panel panel in translucent knamki.s, crisaii.i.e over cobalt.

Js of a mighty event proceeding from Alexander fishes

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