DOI issue:
No. 391 (October 1925)
DOI article:[Studio-talk]
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21403#0260
SOUTHPORT
SOUTHPORT—The work of Percy
Lancaster, which is probably familiar
to readers of The Studio, is so forth-
right, and its vision so definite, that one
wonders whether anyone has yet de-
scribed him as " sincere." Any artist
to whom this phrase is applied may be
forgiven a deadly deed, for " so sincere "
is the equivalent in art cliches of " that's
right " in common parlance, and present
England knows all that this implies. a
Perhaps Mr. Lancaster has escaped, for
the critic who says " so sincere ** generally
does it about someone whose sincerity
he thinks doubtful in the general opinion,
hissing it in a tone which suggests that
sincerity is the rarest of artistic qualities.
This is untrue and impolite. The only
insincere artist is he who assumes optical
peculiarities he does not possess, and only
an oculist can decide that anyone is doing
this. There are so many ways of seeing
nature, any of which may be true to the
seer. A man may be wholeheartedly
sincere even when not afflicted with
astigmatism, a a a a a
Very few Lancashire artists are astig-
matic. In contradiction of natural ex-
pectations, they see nature joyously, and
love light rather than the darkness which
covers much of their native county, and
clarity and line. Percy Lancaster has
earned the right to be regarded as an
outstanding Lancashire artist. a a
He has made a place for himself in the
country's art, and there is a personal
quality in his work which can only be
described as " Lancashire." Something
of the brilliance and clarity of atmosphere
which distinguished the men of the Liver-
pool School in the nineteenth century is
present also. Obstacles are, in his case,
made to be fought and conquered, and,
like all men who fight obstacles with
success, this artist modestly describes
himself as " lucky." He is a bringer of
luck to others, for his influence in his
adopted town of Southport has been
extraordinary; so that Southport now has
better, if not larger, exhibitions than any
other Lancashire town, and much good
work finds a home there. J. W. S.
SOUTHPORT—The work of Percy
Lancaster, which is probably familiar
to readers of The Studio, is so forth-
right, and its vision so definite, that one
wonders whether anyone has yet de-
scribed him as " sincere." Any artist
to whom this phrase is applied may be
forgiven a deadly deed, for " so sincere "
is the equivalent in art cliches of " that's
right " in common parlance, and present
England knows all that this implies. a
Perhaps Mr. Lancaster has escaped, for
the critic who says " so sincere ** generally
does it about someone whose sincerity
he thinks doubtful in the general opinion,
hissing it in a tone which suggests that
sincerity is the rarest of artistic qualities.
This is untrue and impolite. The only
insincere artist is he who assumes optical
peculiarities he does not possess, and only
an oculist can decide that anyone is doing
this. There are so many ways of seeing
nature, any of which may be true to the
seer. A man may be wholeheartedly
sincere even when not afflicted with
astigmatism, a a a a a
Very few Lancashire artists are astig-
matic. In contradiction of natural ex-
pectations, they see nature joyously, and
love light rather than the darkness which
covers much of their native county, and
clarity and line. Percy Lancaster has
earned the right to be regarded as an
outstanding Lancashire artist. a a
He has made a place for himself in the
country's art, and there is a personal
quality in his work which can only be
described as " Lancashire." Something
of the brilliance and clarity of atmosphere
which distinguished the men of the Liver-
pool School in the nineteenth century is
present also. Obstacles are, in his case,
made to be fought and conquered, and,
like all men who fight obstacles with
success, this artist modestly describes
himself as " lucky." He is a bringer of
luck to others, for his influence in his
adopted town of Southport has been
extraordinary; so that Southport now has
better, if not larger, exhibitions than any
other Lancashire town, and much good
work finds a home there. J. W. S.