Studio: international art (85.1923)

STUDIO-TALK

quality, which is, I think, the outcome of
a greatstudyand understanding of Nature’s
moods. In looking at these canvases (small
for the most part), one feels that here is one
who paints because he needs must, without
thought of public or exhibition, one who
has had little academic training, but whose
sense of style is innate.” 000

PARIS.—At the Georges Petit Galleries
last month there was an exhibition of Mr.
Geoffrey Birkbeck’s water-colours, two ex-
amples of which are here reproduced.
During the past two years he has done a
great deal of painting in the gardens at
Versailles, and the exhibition was mainly
devoted to this. These famous gardens are
exactly suited to his temperament. The
sweeping straight lines, the broad open
spaces, terraces and great flights of steps
lend themselves to his vigorous style. His
unique sense of the dramatic in art has
taken full advantage of the strong contrasts

of pale marble and dark foliage, of delicate
carving and the bold massed grouping of
the trees. Le Notre might almost have had
such an artist in his mind when he designed
the gardens. 00000
Drama—in the sense just explained—
vigour and withal simplicity are the key-
notes of his art. These qualities are fairly
well illustrated in the picture of the vase.
Observe the vitality and grace of the
sculptured figures drawn in with pen and
colour after the picture had been painted.
Some of the finest of his works are un-
doubtedly the bronze groups surrounding
the pools on the Terrasse. He has treated
them backed by the palace as well as
facing north and south ; and always with
the same motif, dramatic contrast both of
light and movement. 000

Versailles is certainly one of the most
romantic spots in Europe. But it is pecu-
liar ; its romance does not depend upon
memories of the past and our own imagina-

“STOKE HOLY CROSS”
BY GEOFFREY BIRKBECK