Studio: international art (76.1919)

Studio- Talk

"the fair" i (/« ike possession of W. Lawrence Smith, Esq.) by henri morisset

Only a man who is very sure of himself would
leave so much to the imagination and secure
nevertheless so high a degree of completeness ;
and only a painter with a rare power to ob-
serve could carry elimination so far and yet
be so thoroughly convincing. The painting by
Morisset provides a definite contrast of style ;
it is distinguished by brilliant audacity of
executive method and by effective vivacity
of manner. With these we give a reproduction
of a water-colour by Mrs. Lawrence Smith,
which was exhibited at the Royal Academy
some four or five years ago, and charms alike
by its reticence and by its decorative simplicity.

Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, of whose work we give
some examples, possesses in a marked degree
the decorative sense, and an equally strong

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predilection for shipping motives, which is
accounted for by his familiarity with sea-
faring life. He owns to an unstinted admiration
for the art of the Far East, and, as he says,
has endeavoured to combine the decorative
feeling so prominent therein with the Western
treatment, retaining all the correct details of
the ships, ancient and modern, which enter
into his compositions, so far as consistent with
the purpose he has in view. The colour-schemes
of his mural panels, such as those reproduced,
are usually of a subdued character, and it is in
juxtaposition to wainscoting that their decora-
tive value is fully realized.

The War Memorials Committee of the Royal
Academy, of which the President, Sir Aston
Webb, is Chairman, has under consideration