Studio: international art (68.1916)

IVater-Colours by George Henry, A.R.A.

The Promenade, Tokyo, in conception, scale,
composition, technique and harmony, is surely
the highest expression in the gentle art of water-
colour drawing. Mark the unrivalled sensitive-
ness in the green and pink in parasol and kimono,
the depth of tenderness in the distance blue, and
the invigoration in that note of red in the cock's
comb, a spot of incalculable value. This drawing
should have found a place in a public collection ;
it is too valuable an asset in the humanising
process that lies ahead to be buried in the
seclusion of a private collection.

The versatility of this modern artist is exempli-
fied in At the Windoiv, as also George Henry's
supreme mastery over colour. In an excess of
reticence, in an all but monochromatic mood, the
only departure from sensitive grey tones being the
introduction of black in the sash and hat-band
and the touch of green visible through the open
casement, the artist has produced a scheme of
rare decorative charm. This refined drawing was
executed quite a decade ago, before Dame Fashion
began to disconcert artists by extreme attenuation
of skirts, and it is an incontestable demonstration
of the decorative charm of grey.

The other drawings reproduced suffer as much
from the absence of colour as the reported speech
of the orator does from the lack of accent, but in
subject, composition, and unerring draughtsman-
ship they are conspicuously interesting. In treat-
ment, A Japanese Lady is a fine study. The
drapery of the figure is projected against a back-
ground of identical tone, a favourite device of the
artist's, yet the differentiation is complete, while
the charmingly drawn head and coiffure, the
beautiful red in waist-band, with faintest reflection
of this in the fan, are all elements of charm in a
delightful drawing. On the Eiver Bank is rich
in atmospheric feeling ; May/air is charged with
interest and restfulness in tonality ; and La Coiffense
with a measure of extreme delicacy ; while Autumn
Sunshine veritably scintillates with light. In La
Chimere, as in the large oil for which it was the
finished study, the arresting colour scheme, the
striking pose, the well-drawn furniture, the carefully
studied carelessness of background, are features in
one of the recent masterpieces of the artist.

Much has been written on the " Glasgow
School of Painters," authoritative and otherwise,
and much no doubt remains to be written.
The initial step in the movement may yet be
assigned to a holiday trip and a month's study
at Paris, undertaken by R. W. Allan in the year
187 5 ; but this is controversial matter, and should
78

be eschewed in the closing sentences of a magazine
article. It is too early to pronounce dogmatically
on the exact position of each member in this
interesting "School"; when, however, the future
historian, free from contemporary bias and favour,
assigns respective places, George Henry, by reason
of great achievement and profound influence
exerted on art, will surely occupy a niche of
undisputed distinction.

J. Taylor.

By the will of the late Mr. Henry James his
portrait by Sargent reverts to the National Portrait
Gallery. In Chelsea a movement is afoot to place
a replica of the bust of the novelist by Mr. F.
Derwent Wood, A.R.A., in the public library to
commemorate Mr. James's sympathy with Great
Britain in its ordeal, and his choice of Chelsea
with its literary and artistic traditions as his place
of residence.