Studio: international art (84.1922)

THE PAINTINGS OF MR. W. E. WEBSTER

ENIGMA." OIL PAINTING BY
W. E. WEBSTER, K.I., R.O.I.

(In the possession of T. F.
Bush, Esq., Texas, U.S.A.)

vated taste and exquisite accomplishment,
but the source of this power is his own
instinct for what is beautiful in nature, an in-
stinct which he has trained and developed
by'earnest study both of nature and art. 0

So in canvases like Enigma and Coquette—
to quote typical illustrations of his practice
—it is the artist's mind that is revealed, and
the revelation is very acceptable. He puts
into his work the joy which he feels when
he looks at things which are beautiful in
themselves, and he shows in the way he
treats these things how much pleasure he
derives from dealing with subtleties of
colour and graces of craftsmanship. Be-

196

cause his own enjoyment is so real he is
able to convey it in full measure to others
and so to fulfil the artist's mission to please
in accordance with sound tradition. That
there should be still amongst us men with
these healthy convictions is a matter for
congratulation—they are doing important
service in stemming the tide of degenera-
tion which threatens to swamp the art
of this country—and among such men Mr.
Webster takes high rank because to
wholesomeness of belief he adds a quality
of achievement which is rare enough
to-day to deserve a more than ordinary
degree of approval. A. L. Baldry.