DOI Heft:
No. 298 (January 1918)
DOI Artikel:Finch, Arthur: Recent decorative work of Frank Brangwyn, A.R.A., [2]
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21264#0162
Recent Decorative Work of Frank Brangwyn, A.R.A.
number of figures, which handled by a less
skilful designer would have resulted in a dis-
turbing effect, Brangwyn has, by his clever
method of grouping and spacing over the panel
of each individual group mass, brought them
into harmony with the simple expansive back-
ground of purplish blue sky, above the hori-
zontal lined seascape, with its ingenious illusion
of distance, so that the groups appear restful
in the executed work, and do not obtrude!
from the wall. Take the treatment of the end
design. The Death of St. Aidan. Unlike the
tedious technique' of many French schemes,
and the lifelessness which has marred the
otherwise clever work in St. Peter’s, Rome,
the central group, comprising the white-robed
St. Aidan, and the purple-tinted robed monk on
either side of the bier, is simple, yet full of
expression. Then apart from the free treatment
of the draperies, of which the bent figure in
olive-green is a masterly example, observe how
ably the artist has posed the concentrated
powerful type of monk athwart the tree, whose
face aslant is the means whereby Brangwyn
has been able to bring in the fine end group of
peasant women, with their red, white, and orange
head-dress lighting up the drabness of the black
robes, to balance the intent group of powerful,
eager, hungry, living humans forming the first
part of the panel. The expressiveness in both
end groups is somewhat lost in the completed
mosaic, and a cross has been added, which the
dying saint is holding. Brangwyn has eschewed
the pictorial effect, which has blighted so much
mosaic work, and particularly the spandrels
beneath the dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Even in the landing group, where another artist
might have been tempted to overelaboration,
St. Aidan in white is merely outlined against
tire cleverly wrought yellowish grey sail, making
the centre for the arrangement of the sur-
rounding draped and undraped wading figures.
Two sets of trees are employed to aid in bringing
the composition together, so that it takes its
0./ mm
fov
*. pM
■M. f; \W '•
1 r a Mm
"ST. AIDAN PREACHING." FROM THE ORIGINAL DESIGN FOR MOSAIC DECORATION IN ST. AIDAN'S CHURCH.
LEEDS, BY FRANK BRANGWYN, A.R.A.
I46
number of figures, which handled by a less
skilful designer would have resulted in a dis-
turbing effect, Brangwyn has, by his clever
method of grouping and spacing over the panel
of each individual group mass, brought them
into harmony with the simple expansive back-
ground of purplish blue sky, above the hori-
zontal lined seascape, with its ingenious illusion
of distance, so that the groups appear restful
in the executed work, and do not obtrude!
from the wall. Take the treatment of the end
design. The Death of St. Aidan. Unlike the
tedious technique' of many French schemes,
and the lifelessness which has marred the
otherwise clever work in St. Peter’s, Rome,
the central group, comprising the white-robed
St. Aidan, and the purple-tinted robed monk on
either side of the bier, is simple, yet full of
expression. Then apart from the free treatment
of the draperies, of which the bent figure in
olive-green is a masterly example, observe how
ably the artist has posed the concentrated
powerful type of monk athwart the tree, whose
face aslant is the means whereby Brangwyn
has been able to bring in the fine end group of
peasant women, with their red, white, and orange
head-dress lighting up the drabness of the black
robes, to balance the intent group of powerful,
eager, hungry, living humans forming the first
part of the panel. The expressiveness in both
end groups is somewhat lost in the completed
mosaic, and a cross has been added, which the
dying saint is holding. Brangwyn has eschewed
the pictorial effect, which has blighted so much
mosaic work, and particularly the spandrels
beneath the dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Even in the landing group, where another artist
might have been tempted to overelaboration,
St. Aidan in white is merely outlined against
tire cleverly wrought yellowish grey sail, making
the centre for the arrangement of the sur-
rounding draped and undraped wading figures.
Two sets of trees are employed to aid in bringing
the composition together, so that it takes its
0./ mm
fov
*. pM
■M. f; \W '•
1 r a Mm
"ST. AIDAN PREACHING." FROM THE ORIGINAL DESIGN FOR MOSAIC DECORATION IN ST. AIDAN'S CHURCH.
LEEDS, BY FRANK BRANGWYN, A.R.A.
I46