Studio: international art (82.1921)

THE RENAISSANCE OF THE TATE GALLERY

There is an admirable selection of draw-
ings and water-colours lent by the same
Museum, and other modern paintings
from various sources ; it is hoped to con-
sider these in a later article. a a

Miss Winifred Knights's painting of The
Deluge, which gained the Prix de Rome, is
lent by the authorities of the British School
at Rome. It is an intellectual exercise
rather than a work of art (perhaps in-
evitably) and it may be described as an
attempt to apply cubism to realistic paint-
ing. This sort of cubism, being a large sin,
covers a multitude of small ones. Only
when painters really think and feel in cubes
will cubism become a legitimate form of

190

art expression, otherwise it is mere affecta-
tion and not attractive except, apparently,
to the very young and to those without
talent. 0 0 a a a a
We are particularly concerned, on this
occasion, with more familiar paintings.
Mr. Charles Sims's picture The Fountain
is not one of the newest acquisitions, having;
been purchased by the Chantrey Trustees
in 1908. It is obviously a charming pic-
ture ; its purpose is to charm and it is a
success. The painter has been discreet.
He has not abused his cleverness, of which
there is plenty of evidence. He has kept
well within his powers and produced a
successful painting instead of entering into