DOI issue:
No. 335 (February 1921)
DOI article:Studio-talk
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21392#0088
STUDIO-TALK
the great diversity of the collection, for
apart from the high average standard of
the individual exhibits the variety of the
mediums represented completely dispelled
any sense of monotony. The display in its
entirety was an eloquent demonstration of
the vitality of the modern British School
of Graphic Art and a vindication of the
aims of the promoters of the new Society.
Mr. Edward Ertz's wood engraving, La
Grand'mere des Pecheurs d Equihen, of
which we give a reproduction, was one
among numerous wood block prints in the
last-mentioned exhibition, though most of
these' prints were of a different type to that
of Mr. Ertz, whose methods, rarely prac-
tised in these days, are essentially those
which Bewick practised with so much suc-
cess. In this type of wood-engraving the
" white line " plays an all-important part,
and it demands not only a manipu-
lative skill in the use of the burin which
takes years to acquire, but also the exercise
of sound judgment in the interpretation of
planes, atmosphere, transparency, opaque-
ness, softness and depth in shadows, and in
fact every gradation of tone. 0 0
We referred in a previous number to
the important discovery by Mr. George
Sheringham, the well-known decorative
artist, of a means of overcoming those
properties of artificial light which so alter
the effect of colour as practically to pre-
clude an artist from working in colour
except in daylight. Further develop-
ments have taken place, and lamps em-
bodying the principle of the " Shering-
ham Daylight" are now available for
those who have need of them. We
illustrate on this page one of these lamps
designed by Mr. Harold Stabler. It is
an-electric lamp intended for the desk,
and' the curved arm of the lamp is made
to move in a screw joint just above
the base, the lamp itself with the shade
being fixed at the other end. 0 0
The last exhibition of the National
Portrait Society, held at Messrs. Agnew's
in June last, was a small affair, less than
fifty works, nearly all in oils, being shown,
whereas the present exhibition at the
Grafton comprises close on three hundred
items, of which a considerable proportion
are in various mediums other than oil.
Both on this account and because the
work exhibited, besides reaching through-
out a high level of attainment, presents
numerous deviations from the formal
types of portraiture which make portrait
exhibitions as a rule rather wearisome,
the display is more than usually interesting.
Three portraits by artists of a bygone
generation are included amongst the
paintings—one by Etty, another by
Winterhalter of Queen Alexandra (lent
by Her Majesty), and the other by Gustave
Ricard. Mr. Sargent and Sir William
Orpen are also represented by a single
loaned work respectively, Mr. Sargent's
being a brilliantly executed portrait of
Mrs. Ricketts, which has now toned down
so much as to make it look rather out of
place amidst the paintings of to-day.
The Society has many other distinguished
SHERINGHAM DAYLIGHT" DESK
LAMP IN POLISHED ALUMINIUM
DESIGNED BY HAROLD STABLER
73
the great diversity of the collection, for
apart from the high average standard of
the individual exhibits the variety of the
mediums represented completely dispelled
any sense of monotony. The display in its
entirety was an eloquent demonstration of
the vitality of the modern British School
of Graphic Art and a vindication of the
aims of the promoters of the new Society.
Mr. Edward Ertz's wood engraving, La
Grand'mere des Pecheurs d Equihen, of
which we give a reproduction, was one
among numerous wood block prints in the
last-mentioned exhibition, though most of
these' prints were of a different type to that
of Mr. Ertz, whose methods, rarely prac-
tised in these days, are essentially those
which Bewick practised with so much suc-
cess. In this type of wood-engraving the
" white line " plays an all-important part,
and it demands not only a manipu-
lative skill in the use of the burin which
takes years to acquire, but also the exercise
of sound judgment in the interpretation of
planes, atmosphere, transparency, opaque-
ness, softness and depth in shadows, and in
fact every gradation of tone. 0 0
We referred in a previous number to
the important discovery by Mr. George
Sheringham, the well-known decorative
artist, of a means of overcoming those
properties of artificial light which so alter
the effect of colour as practically to pre-
clude an artist from working in colour
except in daylight. Further develop-
ments have taken place, and lamps em-
bodying the principle of the " Shering-
ham Daylight" are now available for
those who have need of them. We
illustrate on this page one of these lamps
designed by Mr. Harold Stabler. It is
an-electric lamp intended for the desk,
and' the curved arm of the lamp is made
to move in a screw joint just above
the base, the lamp itself with the shade
being fixed at the other end. 0 0
The last exhibition of the National
Portrait Society, held at Messrs. Agnew's
in June last, was a small affair, less than
fifty works, nearly all in oils, being shown,
whereas the present exhibition at the
Grafton comprises close on three hundred
items, of which a considerable proportion
are in various mediums other than oil.
Both on this account and because the
work exhibited, besides reaching through-
out a high level of attainment, presents
numerous deviations from the formal
types of portraiture which make portrait
exhibitions as a rule rather wearisome,
the display is more than usually interesting.
Three portraits by artists of a bygone
generation are included amongst the
paintings—one by Etty, another by
Winterhalter of Queen Alexandra (lent
by Her Majesty), and the other by Gustave
Ricard. Mr. Sargent and Sir William
Orpen are also represented by a single
loaned work respectively, Mr. Sargent's
being a brilliantly executed portrait of
Mrs. Ricketts, which has now toned down
so much as to make it look rather out of
place amidst the paintings of to-day.
The Society has many other distinguished
SHERINGHAM DAYLIGHT" DESK
LAMP IN POLISHED ALUMINIUM
DESIGNED BY HAROLD STABLER
73