DOI issue:
No. 360 (March 1923)
DOI article:Stephens, Jessica Walker: The landscape paintings of S. J. Lamorna Birch, R.W.S.
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21397#0144
LANDSCAPE PAINTINGS OF S. J. LAMORNA BIRCH, R.W.S.
bank of the Mersey, a place then beautiful,
though now distorted and made terrible
by the attentions of the Red Ruabon brick
builder. The swirl of water which Mr.
Lamorna Birch now renders with such
force, must have been one of the first sights
to greet his eyes in babyhood. He removed
from Egremont to Manchester and thence
to Halton, near old Lancaster with its
gracious river, the Lune. All this time he
was working in office or mill, and painting
at dawn or sunset under the tutelage of
nature’s structures and his own moods.
Even in these brief hours of study he was
not left at peace. He suffered from dual
inclinations—he wanted to fish when he
was painting, and on fishing expeditions
paintful yearnings tore his soul. There was
compensation in his distresses, however,
for, painting or fishing, he was by the river,
and a beautiful river is better than a school
full of masters to a landscapist; and when,
after some years he was enabled with the
help of friends who recognised his powers.
to make art his means of livelihood, it
became apparent that the river had worked
upon him to no small degree and with
excellent consequences. Since then he has,
to use his own words, ** used no other ”
profession than that for which nature in
himself and in his studies had fitted him.
In his early studies he accustomed him-
self to make a friend of the pencil, and of
what an admirer (feminine and elderly)
called “ the cold water paintin’.” 0
At Newlyn Mr. Lamorna Birch found
himself in his natural element and in the
society of such congenial souls as Mr.
Stanhope Forbes ; and in Cornwall he has
made his home and his contribution to
modern English art. a a 0
At the recent exhibition of his work at
the Fine Art Society’s galleries the breadth
and charm of this contribution were fully
shown. Colour and force of brush and joy
of spirit predominated, and variety of
treatment waited on variety of mood in
nature and in seer. One felt that whilst the
“ WHERE THE STREAM JOINS THE
SEA.” WATER-COLOUR EY S. J,
LAMORNA BIRCH, R.W.S.
124
bank of the Mersey, a place then beautiful,
though now distorted and made terrible
by the attentions of the Red Ruabon brick
builder. The swirl of water which Mr.
Lamorna Birch now renders with such
force, must have been one of the first sights
to greet his eyes in babyhood. He removed
from Egremont to Manchester and thence
to Halton, near old Lancaster with its
gracious river, the Lune. All this time he
was working in office or mill, and painting
at dawn or sunset under the tutelage of
nature’s structures and his own moods.
Even in these brief hours of study he was
not left at peace. He suffered from dual
inclinations—he wanted to fish when he
was painting, and on fishing expeditions
paintful yearnings tore his soul. There was
compensation in his distresses, however,
for, painting or fishing, he was by the river,
and a beautiful river is better than a school
full of masters to a landscapist; and when,
after some years he was enabled with the
help of friends who recognised his powers.
to make art his means of livelihood, it
became apparent that the river had worked
upon him to no small degree and with
excellent consequences. Since then he has,
to use his own words, ** used no other ”
profession than that for which nature in
himself and in his studies had fitted him.
In his early studies he accustomed him-
self to make a friend of the pencil, and of
what an admirer (feminine and elderly)
called “ the cold water paintin’.” 0
At Newlyn Mr. Lamorna Birch found
himself in his natural element and in the
society of such congenial souls as Mr.
Stanhope Forbes ; and in Cornwall he has
made his home and his contribution to
modern English art. a a 0
At the recent exhibition of his work at
the Fine Art Society’s galleries the breadth
and charm of this contribution were fully
shown. Colour and force of brush and joy
of spirit predominated, and variety of
treatment waited on variety of mood in
nature and in seer. One felt that whilst the
“ WHERE THE STREAM JOINS THE
SEA.” WATER-COLOUR EY S. J,
LAMORNA BIRCH, R.W.S.
124