Studio: international art (87.1924)

DUBLIN

DESIGN FOR THE MEDAL OF
THE IRISH FREE STATE FOR
GALLANTRY AT SEA (RECTO)
BY ALBERT POWER, R.H.A.

DUBLIN. — Practising artists seldom
prove capable of expounding their
craft in a public lecture. This was, doubt-
less, one of the reasons why Reynolds's
authorship of “ The Discourses ” was so
constantlyquestioned, even in his own day;
and for this reason, among others, the
lecture on “ Etching for the Craftsman and
the Connoisseur,” which Mr. George
Atkinson, R.H.A., himself an accomplished
etcher, will deliver before the Royal Dublin
Society on January 18th, is likely to
proveof special interest. Mr. Atkinson is the
Head Master of the Metropolitan School
of Art in Dublin, and under his control the
School is at length taking its proper place
as the Irish centre of art instruction. It has
ceased to be merely “ metropolitan,” and
the time is now ripe for a change of name
that will describe its real status as a
National College of Art for Ireland. a
Its present Head Master is a man
peculiarly fitted for his office. He has made
an extensive study of methods and theories
of art training, is an admirable organiser
and possesses the rare qualification, emi-
nently desirable in the management of a
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large school, of being a practitioner in many
arts. It is unfortunate, indeed, that his
official duties have tended of late years, in
a growing degree, to limit his output of
original work; for he paints with dis-
tinction and has worked excellently at
sculpture, furniture design, mezzo-tinting,
metal work and book decoration. a

The Government of Saorstat Eireann
have recently commissioned him to make
four designs for the postage stamps of
highest values, which are soon to be issued.
They will, doubtless, demonstrate once
more the futility of the rough-and-ready
method which was adopted in selecting
designs for the lower values. It is a pity
that these unsightly lower-valued stamps
will, of necessity, have a much greater
publicity than can be hoped for Mr. Atkin-
son’s designs. a 0 a a

The Government have also recently
commissioned Mr. Albert Power, R.H.A.,
to design a medal to be awarded to those
who have saved life at sea, and Mr. Power,
who is a sculptor of great ability, has
produced an admirable design, which is
here illustrated. T. B.

DESIGN FOR THE MEDAL OF
THE IRISH FREE STATE FOR
GALLANTRY AT SEA (VERSO)
BY ALBERT POWER, R.H.A.