DOI issue:
No. 298 (January 1918)
DOI article:Finch, Arthur: Recent decorative work of Frank Brangwyn, A.R.A., [2]
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21264#0160
Recent Decorative Work of Frank Brangwyn, A.R.A.
have led no one to expect or desire. St. Aidan's,
Leeds, the church in question, is particularly
suited architecturally for a large decorative
wall-scheme. Basilican in design, with large
wall-spaces in its spacious interior, the means
were at hand for a favourable result. The
east end, with its great apse, comparable to the
famous Romanesque church interiors of Ger-
many, was wisely selected for the experiment;
for here the light of the sun passing through
the windows and breaking up before the screen
scintillates on the stonework. It might be
questioned by the archaist steeped in conven-
tional mosaic designs, as represented in the
masterpieces of colour in Ravenna, the unfailing
beauty of St. Mark’s, Venice, and the wealth
of Byzantine mosaic, whether an artist having
such a modern outlook, with his powerful,
almost fury-like, types, would be able to treat
them with due regard for, and sympathy with,
the architectural structure and its mystic
purpose. But whatever other shortcomings
Brangwyn may have, he is at least versatile
and appreciative of the purpose of church
decoration. The fact that he is, above all, a
representative of his own art epoch, does not
presuppose his inability to design mosaic for
church interiors. That view is absurd ; for it
must not be forgotten that even in the powerful
days of the Church the influence of Greek art
and the employment of antique technique was
common in church mosaics. After all, the
artist has studied the grammar of art. Occi-
dental and Accidental. He now uses form as
the shape which he clothes with his inimitable
mantle of colour.
Frank Brangwyn aptly chose as the subject
for his designs the representation of scenes from
the life of St. Aidan. According to the legend,
this saint, with a band of trusted monks, landed
on the Northumbrian coast in the early period
of Christianity, penetrated Yorkshire, teaching
a doctrine of goodwill and happiness to the poor,
and died there, beloved for all his kindly acts
“THE ARRIVAL OF ST. AIDAN IN NORTHUMBRIA.” FROM THE ORIGINAL DESIGN FOR MOSAIC DECORATION IN
ST. AIDAN’S CHURCH, LEEDS, BY FRANK BRANGWYN, A.R.A.
I44
have led no one to expect or desire. St. Aidan's,
Leeds, the church in question, is particularly
suited architecturally for a large decorative
wall-scheme. Basilican in design, with large
wall-spaces in its spacious interior, the means
were at hand for a favourable result. The
east end, with its great apse, comparable to the
famous Romanesque church interiors of Ger-
many, was wisely selected for the experiment;
for here the light of the sun passing through
the windows and breaking up before the screen
scintillates on the stonework. It might be
questioned by the archaist steeped in conven-
tional mosaic designs, as represented in the
masterpieces of colour in Ravenna, the unfailing
beauty of St. Mark’s, Venice, and the wealth
of Byzantine mosaic, whether an artist having
such a modern outlook, with his powerful,
almost fury-like, types, would be able to treat
them with due regard for, and sympathy with,
the architectural structure and its mystic
purpose. But whatever other shortcomings
Brangwyn may have, he is at least versatile
and appreciative of the purpose of church
decoration. The fact that he is, above all, a
representative of his own art epoch, does not
presuppose his inability to design mosaic for
church interiors. That view is absurd ; for it
must not be forgotten that even in the powerful
days of the Church the influence of Greek art
and the employment of antique technique was
common in church mosaics. After all, the
artist has studied the grammar of art. Occi-
dental and Accidental. He now uses form as
the shape which he clothes with his inimitable
mantle of colour.
Frank Brangwyn aptly chose as the subject
for his designs the representation of scenes from
the life of St. Aidan. According to the legend,
this saint, with a band of trusted monks, landed
on the Northumbrian coast in the early period
of Christianity, penetrated Yorkshire, teaching
a doctrine of goodwill and happiness to the poor,
and died there, beloved for all his kindly acts
“THE ARRIVAL OF ST. AIDAN IN NORTHUMBRIA.” FROM THE ORIGINAL DESIGN FOR MOSAIC DECORATION IN
ST. AIDAN’S CHURCH, LEEDS, BY FRANK BRANGWYN, A.R.A.
I44