DOI Heft:
No. 361 (April 1923)
DOI Artikel:Drake, Maurice: Stained glass by Reginald Bell
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21397#0216
STAINED GLASS BY REGINALD BELL
uplifted arm held together happily by the
up-flung curve of the dragon's wings meet-
ing the arched line artfully contrived by
scroll, sword, and lambrequin. Nothing
could be more modern in its scheme, and
yet at first glance the panel might be from
an early fifteenth-century window. His
mounted figure of the same Saint at 21,
Old Burlington Street, is frankly modern
and its movement extraordinarily alive. It
is difficult to realise that every curve in the
design must follow a bent grooved lead.
It is so free that it positively needs to be
gripped and held steady by the strong
square border. His little St. Margaret on
the other hand is drooping, all restful. The
panel needs a close examination before it
reveals the heavy line and powerful craft-
work involved in the draperies of the
slender figure. The same heavily leaded
draperies—quite in the manner of the best
15th-century work—give character by their
depth and richness to the processional
figures in the clerestory designs, and again
for all their strength the figures are finely
drawn without a trace of clumsiness. a
Above all, his work is translucent. Too
many painters forget that the first purpose
of a window is to admit light. Too many,
remembering this, endeavour to admit
their light by pale colour, often missing
their aim by rendering it muddy by a film
of paint. Reginald Bell never forgets this
purpose, and so never uses a painted line
or shadow which is unnecessary. He has
realised the vital fact that he is most the
master of his craft who paints his glass the
least. Maurice Drake.
Leipzig Book Exhibition, 1914.—Since
the Armistice the great bulk of the exhibits
in the Official British Section at this ex-
hibition have been returned to this country
and distributed to their owners by the
Department of Overseas Trade. Informa-
tion is now desired by the Department as
to the ownership of the exhibits lent for
display in the British Women's Section
(quite distinct from the Official British
Section), which await distribution because
the owners' names and addresses are not
available. The office of the Department is
35 Old Queen Street, S.W.i.
196
"ST. MARGARET ”
BY REGINALD BELL
uplifted arm held together happily by the
up-flung curve of the dragon's wings meet-
ing the arched line artfully contrived by
scroll, sword, and lambrequin. Nothing
could be more modern in its scheme, and
yet at first glance the panel might be from
an early fifteenth-century window. His
mounted figure of the same Saint at 21,
Old Burlington Street, is frankly modern
and its movement extraordinarily alive. It
is difficult to realise that every curve in the
design must follow a bent grooved lead.
It is so free that it positively needs to be
gripped and held steady by the strong
square border. His little St. Margaret on
the other hand is drooping, all restful. The
panel needs a close examination before it
reveals the heavy line and powerful craft-
work involved in the draperies of the
slender figure. The same heavily leaded
draperies—quite in the manner of the best
15th-century work—give character by their
depth and richness to the processional
figures in the clerestory designs, and again
for all their strength the figures are finely
drawn without a trace of clumsiness. a
Above all, his work is translucent. Too
many painters forget that the first purpose
of a window is to admit light. Too many,
remembering this, endeavour to admit
their light by pale colour, often missing
their aim by rendering it muddy by a film
of paint. Reginald Bell never forgets this
purpose, and so never uses a painted line
or shadow which is unnecessary. He has
realised the vital fact that he is most the
master of his craft who paints his glass the
least. Maurice Drake.
Leipzig Book Exhibition, 1914.—Since
the Armistice the great bulk of the exhibits
in the Official British Section at this ex-
hibition have been returned to this country
and distributed to their owners by the
Department of Overseas Trade. Informa-
tion is now desired by the Department as
to the ownership of the exhibits lent for
display in the British Women's Section
(quite distinct from the Official British
Section), which await distribution because
the owners' names and addresses are not
available. The office of the Department is
35 Old Queen Street, S.W.i.
196
"ST. MARGARET ”
BY REGINALD BELL