Studio: international art (87.1924)

LIVERPOOL—ALDRINGHAM

LIVERPOOL.—The young man, in
art as elsewhere, is the criterion of his
time. In him we see, not what the past has
given to the present, but what the present
is giving to the future. Liverpool, con-
sidering her size, has few of such young
men; and though her older artists are
exhibiting an excellent liveliness of late,
it should not be forgotten that it is from
the men in their 'twenties, such as Mr.
F. E. Allen, that the city's prestige must
come in the future. A student until recently,
Mr. Allen has devoted much of his
energy to etching, with promising results.
It is clear, however, that he is a colourist,
and his development in England's own
medium—water-colour—may be watched
with interest. a a a a

His work shows a grasp of that most
admirable ideal, “ the utmost for the
highest.” If Mr. Allen continues as he has
begun, he will bring credit to any city which
has the ability to understand and keep him.

J. W. S.

“ WIRRAL AND THE WELSH HILLS ”
WATER-COLOUR BY F. E. ALLEN

ALDRINGHAM (Suffolk).—There is
much to disprove the widespread
heresy that only in London can art be
found (a conclusion natural enough to
superficial observers, who do not see that
it is almost inevitable that the artist must
use London as his market). This Suffolk
village, situated near Crabbe’s Aldeburgh,
provides additional refutation in the person
of Mr. C. H. Lay, a man of many parts,
draughtsman, architect, critic and poet.
Mr. Lay loves his Suffolk, and draws from
it most of his pictorial subjects. The
country here is flat meadow and fenland,
with pinewoods, and is not unlike Holland.
Mr. Lay is most interested in trees as
subjects for painting and drawing, and
studies them in all seasons, reproducing
their essential character with much success.
He finds much attractive material also in
the rude buildings, made of boats or any-
thing which comes to hand, by the inhabi-
tants, who carry on the older industries,
such as eel fishing and reed cutting. a

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