Studio: international art (86.1923)

THE PARIS SALONS OF 1923

one exhibition to the other, but each
society preserved the arrangement proper
to it. In recent years there has been
observable on the part of the Artistes
Frangais a genuine effort in the direction
of rejuvenation. Certain artists who not
long ago were looked upon as dangerous
revolutionaries have come to see themselves
not only recognised but appreciated. Jules
Adler, for instance, that veracious painter
of Parisian life to whom this year the
great gold medal has fallen for his picture
Le Printemps de Paris, portraying a group
of girls in white after their first com-
munion. Raoul du Gardier, who showed
in this year’s Salon a picture of the sea
with yachting, is another case in point. 0
Some of the most celebrated portrait
painters associated with the Societe des
Artistes Frangais and whose works have
occupied a prominent place in the Salons
for many years past have passed away—
Bonnat, who for a generation held the
position of official painter, and to whom
one cannot deny certain qualities of truth
and observation; Flameng, who also
enjoyed a considerable vogue; and
Dawant. But already other and younger
portrait painters are coming forward and
command attention, such as Jean Gabriel
Domergue, sparkling with fire and spirit
and endowed with a rare and subtle
understanding of the modern woman of
every species ; Etcheverry, whose Woman
in Black is depicted with much character ;
P. A. Laurens, whose family portraits are
at once reserved and thoughtful; P. M.
Dupuy, who displays a very sure feeling
for plein-air ; and Dechenaud, author of a
portrait of Henry Tenre. 000
One of the features of the Salon of this
year, and one which should not be passed
over even in a brief apergu such as this, was
the increasing prominence given to colonial
painting, Morocco in particular has
proved a valuable source of inspiration for
many. M. Duvent, for instance, has
found in that country the material for
some fine military subjects ; Mile. Thil
has depicted with talent the ruined cities
of the South; Mme. Marie Gourdault
has brought us decorative compositions
marked by great richness of colour and
novelty of design. Mile. Rondenay, too,
showed much originality in her painting
12

of the human subject, while the Admiralty
basin at the port of Algiers furnished M.
Cauvy with an interesting motif for one
of his vigorous pictures. 000
Historical painting does not nowadays
occupy the large place it used to enjoy in
the Salon, but among the pictures of this
class in the Salon of 1923 one that ought
not to be lost sight of is M. Fouqueray's
Kersaint aux Cotes d’Annam. This artist
is not merely a vivacious colorist, but
he possesses the faculty of historic re-
construction, so that the scenes he repre-
sents have every appearance of actuality.

H. Fritsch-Estrangin.

The Societe des Artistes Frangais has
awarded to Mr. George Harcourt, A.R.A.,
a gold medal for his painting L’Anniversaire
dela Naissance (The Birthday). This paint-
ing, a portrait group of Mrs. Harcourt and
her children, was reproduced in colours in
an article on Mr. Harcourt’s work by
Mr. G. F. Lees in our issue of May, 1917.

ft DANCER WITH CASTANETS ”
BRONZE STATUETTE BY
CHARLES PIBWORTH

(Societe des Artistes Frangais)