Studio: international art (78.1919)

STUDIO-TALK

PAGE ORNAMENT
BY E. O. HOPPE

recent years, referred to the productions of
Mr. Sheringham, who now holds a fore-
most place among the decorative artists
of the day, and it must suffice to say,
on this occasion, that his latest work, so
far from showing any abatement of those
qualities which have brought him to
the front, proclaims still further his re-
markable versatility, and especially that
romantic imagination from the active play
of which his designs so far transcend the
commonplace. 0000
Coinciding with the opening of the
Winter Exhibition of the Old Water Colour
Society came the announcement of the
death of Sir Ernest A. Waterlow, R.A., who
joined the Society nearly forty years ago,
and was President from 1897 till 1914. He
is represented in the exhibition by several
works, varying considerably in scale, in
which the classic traditions of water-
colour painting, championed by so many
members of this body, are well maintained.
As a whole the display does not present
any marked deviation from those which
have preceded it in these galleries. As
usual, landscape is mostly in evidence;
but, as always, there is a good sprinkling
of figure and other subjects to give variety
to the show. The chief feature of out-
standing interest on this occasion is a
drawing of A Larch Wood, by Mr. J. S.
Sargent, R.A., remarkable for its spon-
taneity and freshness of treatment. There
are also some capital studies by Mr. Clausen
no

of landscape under different atmospheric
conditions. 00000
Rumours have been current for some
time past that the Grosvenor Gallery in
New Bond Street, where since 1912 the
International and National Portrait So-
cieties have exhibited regularly, might soon
cease to be available for fixtures of the
kind, and these rumours were confirmed
by a letter which appeared in the “ Times ”
early last month. The letter was an appeal
made by an influential body of signatories,
including several peers noted for their in-
terest in art, Mr. Asquith, Mr. Winston
Churchill, and some dozen distinguished
artists, for raising a fund of at least £10,000
to meet the requirements of the lessees,
who will otherwise dispose of the re-
mainder of their term after the end of
1919, and also to provide means for main-
taining and developing the gallery, espe-
cially in the direction of augmenting the
foreign exhibits. This has always been
the chief function of the International
Society, and now that war conditions no
longer interpose any obstacle, it is of the
utmost importance that the Society should
be in a position to fulfil this function. In
the best interests of all, therefore, it is
earnestly to be hoped that the sum asked
for will be forthcoming in time. 0 0

At the Society's present exhibition por-
traiture is the chief feature, Mr. Sargent,
Mr. McEvoy, Mr. Strang, Sir John Lavery,
Mr. Oswald Birley, and Mr. Gerald Kelly