Studio: international art (85.1923)

THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF PAINTER-ETCHERS

of which Turner has carefully written
“ Marford Mill, Denbighshire '' (XXL
L.). This drawing is certainly the sketch
from nature from which the water-colour
was elaborated. Careful comparison of the
sketch with the finished picture shows that
even at the age of nineteen Turner had
resolutely turned his back on what he some-
times called u the map-making '' business.
In the pencil drawing the gable of an attic
on the back of the house and the roof of an
outhouse are shown. In the finished work
these details are suppressed, because they
were not essential to the main idea Turner
wished to express ; and the design gains
immeasurably in dignity and power by
their suppression. The curious will also
notice that all the details of the structure
of the water-wheel are omitted in the pencil
drawing. This was simply a wise economy
on Turner's part. He had drawn and
studied so many water-wheels that he
knew them and all their movements by
heart. The water-wheel in the finished
drawing looks indeed as though it had
been drawn and painted from memory by
someone who had made and used it. 0
The long life of obscurity during which
this drawing has been known simply as
A Water Mill seems to have shielded it
from all those dangers which have ruined
so many of Turner's more famous paint-
ings. Its delicate greys have not been
bleached by exposure to the glare of the
sun in public exhibitions. It is as fresh
and delightful as though it had been
painted but a year or two ago ; and this
perfect condition adds much to the charm
of this youthful masterpiece. 0 0

THE SPECIAL SPRING NUMBER OF
•“THE STUDIO,” 1923. 000

The subject-matter of this Special Number,
which will be ready for publication in
May, will consist of figure compositions
in water-colour, and will be exemplified
by 24 mounted plates in colours represent-
ing the work of well known modern
British artists. As the last two water-
colour numbers were sold out on publica-
tion, and many later orders could not be
fulfilled, applications for the forthcoming
volume should be made in good time. A
prospectus containing further particulars
will be sent on request.

144

THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF PAINTER-
ETCHERS AND ENGRAVERS. 0

THIS Society held its forty-first annual
exhibition last month in the gallery of
the Old Water-Colour Society, and of the
219 exhibits displayed on the walls a not
inconsiderable proportion were the work
of the younger contingent of etchers and
engravers. Under the presidency of Sir
Frank Short, whose influence on the rising
generation of etchers has been very marked,
the policy of the Society has been to wel-
come to its ranks young men and women
whose efforts, while reaching a certain
standard of efficiency, give promise of
further and fuller development. They
enter the Society as Associates, and in
course of time, if their achievements
warrant the promotion, they become
Fellows. There is much to be said for a
policy of this kind, although it does not
appear to meet with much sympathy in

" STUDY OF AN OLD GIPSY ”
WOODCUT BY A. R.
MIDDLETON TODD, A.R.E.