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#0163
Recent Decorative Work of Frank Brangwyn, A.R.A.
“THE DEATH OF ST. AIDAN.” FROM THE ORIGINAL DESIGN FOR MOSAIC DECORATION IN ST. AIDAN’s
CHURCH, LEEDS, BY FRANK BRANGWYN, A.R.A.
place in the architectural scheme. Each figure-
group has a background of ably poised trees,
reminiscent of his landscape study In Provence,
suggesting that dignity essential to successful
mosaic design; they bring a unity of purpose
into the theme as a whole, the faint outlines of
the trees arranged over the entire panel surface
against the blue distances completing the
binding effect. Lightening the scheme is the
foreground arrangement of tulips and geese,
with pug dog, reminding one of the work of
Early Italian artists.
In the execution of the mosaic, the method
employed has been to use long perpendicular
lines for draperies and horizontal ones for sky and
background. A flat effect has been avoided by
working in the medium of stained glass, so that
the onlooker does not tire, his interest being
sustained by the variation of tones, and the
colour and definiteness of forms are well brought
out. Flesh tones have been rendered in an
enamelled tone on the figures, so that a bright
effect is obtained. This, with the added bril-
liance, of the red hues of some of the drajreries
with contrasts of heliotrope against the whites
and light tones of the monks' gowns, has
resulted in a striking colour-scheme,, whose
beauty is heightened in the surface patterns of
mosaic. It has, unfortunately, been impossible
to include an illustration in colours of the work as
executed; the difficulty of securing even ordinary
photographs was very considerable, and the con-
ditions in respect of lighting, etc., absolutely pre-
cluded a satisfactory reproduction in polychrome.
The portrait of Mr. Brangwyn by Mr. Joseph
Simpson, of which we published a reproduction
in colour with the article on Mr. Brangwyn's
mural paintings for the Panama-Pacific Exposi-
tion last October, is the property of Mr. D. S.
Meldrum, who kindly gave his permission for
its reproduction.
r47
“THE DEATH OF ST. AIDAN.” FROM THE ORIGINAL DESIGN FOR MOSAIC DECORATION IN ST. AIDAN’s
CHURCH, LEEDS, BY FRANK BRANGWYN, A.R.A.
place in the architectural scheme. Each figure-
group has a background of ably poised trees,
reminiscent of his landscape study In Provence,
suggesting that dignity essential to successful
mosaic design; they bring a unity of purpose
into the theme as a whole, the faint outlines of
the trees arranged over the entire panel surface
against the blue distances completing the
binding effect. Lightening the scheme is the
foreground arrangement of tulips and geese,
with pug dog, reminding one of the work of
Early Italian artists.
In the execution of the mosaic, the method
employed has been to use long perpendicular
lines for draperies and horizontal ones for sky and
background. A flat effect has been avoided by
working in the medium of stained glass, so that
the onlooker does not tire, his interest being
sustained by the variation of tones, and the
colour and definiteness of forms are well brought
out. Flesh tones have been rendered in an
enamelled tone on the figures, so that a bright
effect is obtained. This, with the added bril-
liance, of the red hues of some of the drajreries
with contrasts of heliotrope against the whites
and light tones of the monks' gowns, has
resulted in a striking colour-scheme,, whose
beauty is heightened in the surface patterns of
mosaic. It has, unfortunately, been impossible
to include an illustration in colours of the work as
executed; the difficulty of securing even ordinary
photographs was very considerable, and the con-
ditions in respect of lighting, etc., absolutely pre-
cluded a satisfactory reproduction in polychrome.
The portrait of Mr. Brangwyn by Mr. Joseph
Simpson, of which we published a reproduction
in colour with the article on Mr. Brangwyn's
mural paintings for the Panama-Pacific Exposi-
tion last October, is the property of Mr. D. S.
Meldrum, who kindly gave his permission for
its reproduction.
r47