New-York tribune., 1901-03-15
THE GRAIL PANELS.
GLJMPSES OF DREANILAND WITH AMER.
ICAN STAGE MANAGEMENT
ABBEYS REMAINING PANELS
FOR THE BOSTON PUB
Lie LIBRARY
Fairford, March Is.

realistic stage setting for Arthurian romance.
II is in Mr.. Abbey's studio that one may dream
N me twilight of medieval literature and awake
in a House Beautiful, gloriied with the radiance
os art, where the ideal knight with stainless
soul welcomed by lovely maidens and commun-
ing with angels, fights his mystical battles and
follows the quest of the Grail. 1t is a huge
we'll lighted barrack converted into a theatre
with the decorative panels for the Boston Pub
lie Library as the scenes. and with devices of
stage carpentry for raising and lowering Them
and the property rooms stocked with hun
dreds Of costumes for models and with armor
metal work and casts without end. Shakespeare's
greatest plays have been staged here. Richard
III" Hamlet" Henry VIII and Lear"
among them: but the genius loci is the perfect
knight of the romance writer's of the twelfth
century. Walter Mapes. Chretien de Troyes and
wolfram of Eschenbach. Not robed and ar
mored in white in Tennysons idylls. but in
the vivid red required by the symbolism of
art he fills this studio theatre with his gracious
rresence whether he bends before the beaute-
ous naidens. or stands for combat with seven
adversaries. or eagerly watches on the sea the
mystical course to Sarras, and whether he be
Galahad. Percival, Lancelot Bors. the glory
of nerfected knighthood and the glamour of
imagination upon him
The largest of these decorative panels. which
Is now receiving the painters final touches for
exhibition in the Paris Salon is marvel of
well balanced composition and loveliness of
rolor Il represents the four and twenty beau
teous rnaidens welcoming the Red knight in the
outer hall Of the castle. The madens are ordi-
narilv portrayed as embroidering in a magnifi-
Gently decorated hall. with environment as
glorious as their own beauty and costumes.
Mr.. Abbey has brought them out of their
sunptuous into long entrance hall, bare
and grim in its primitive simplicity, and his in
stnct is true The decorative effect of the revel
of color in the draperies is increased by the
roughness and severity of the background At
the marriage of Queen Wilhelmina there were
no decorations except few masses Of palms
and graenery around the organ and pulpit and
at the entrance, and the murky, vaulted ceiling
and bare sidewalks provided the most artistic
setting for the splendors Of color and the CLINT
of gold lace in the church. when it was filled
with brilliantly dressed princesses and ladies
and court functionaries in uniform. Mr. Abbey
IN the same way produces by means OF plaln
and grim environment the most effective setllhs
for vision of maidenly grace and loVehness'
The severity Of the entrance hall brings out by
contrast the softness and tenderness of the
rnsidens in their richly embroidered costumes
Mr. Abbey has not studied Shakespeare Tor
rosrs without learning the artistic resources of
L
summer in his Chelsea studio the knight greet
ing the rnaidens was figure in trailing rope
of vivid red. The robe is now shortened TO the
ankles. and he is encased in chain mall through
which the red CLEANS with subdued radiance
The arroor in1parts an effect of masculine hard
ness which contrasts strongly with the softness
and tender grace of the score Of maidens. 1t
offers scope moreover. for fine play of light
and shade in the painting and toning of the red
figure with its crown of blonde hair The knight
has laid down his shield, helmet and sword belt
on the floor at the entrance, and with couruy
grace is bending low the maidens are daintiiS
and timidly clustering about him. HIS back is
turned and his face is not seen; but he is the
embodiment Of snewy robust strength among
the stately damsels, who have let fal: their en-
broideries and hastened into the entrance hall
to meet him. Mr.. Abbey has never drawn bet
ter figure than this knight, nor has he ever
shown greater skill as colorist than in toning
the red under the chain mail.
The twenty-four maidens form three groups
all the way across the long panel. The one near
est the knight has seized one hand and four be-
yond her are coyly seeking TO touch the other
hand Those further along are stretching out
their arms. or claspng their hands. or eagerly
pressing forward to greet him. All have thrown
hack their wells and are wearing jewels on their
necks in their hair. The composition Of the
work is so mastery that there is no sense of
artificial posing or suspended movement NO
maiden stands in the way of her companions,
and all are moving with dignity and high bred
grace toward the knight. There is action with
out theatrical effect, and there is a good sense |
OF air space. The color scheme is bright and
harmonious in its blends and balances Of white
and yellow, and of blue. purple and mauve.
There is one glowing red costume with black
embroideries 10 match the vivid scarlet of the
knights figure and him is maiden in
hrocaded brown and another in dark gray. with
touches Of dull red. The queenliest figure in the
centre is arrayed in white with pale blue enl-
hroidery. Her long braids of blonde hair are
twisted with blue ribbons and she wears crown
and three strings of jewels one green and the
DINERS blue in two shades The combinations of
gelows and mauves are beautiful. and there is
an exquisite blue gauze veil painted on white
oress The wells held by circles Of gold.
ana there is great variety in the embroideries
ahc jewels. The costumes have been designed
rom Illuminated missals and tombs but the
ifee play Of color has not been restricted. The
iaces are Of different types OF beauty and there
j. me variety in the expression OF glad surprise
aiter weary waiting. Gentle and winsome are
'nese ladies', well deserving the homage of a chv-
sfous knight If there be sadness in the eyes |
mere is the promise of half smile in the lips |
"Hen me stately maidens. half afraid TO
touch the knights hand are under less restraint
the work is tender and refined in feeling as
" Is olgnifed in composition, beautiful in color
and true in line
"f- ABBEY in selecting episodes of the Grail
,.eehos' which mark the beginning of English,
'ithch and German literature as appropriate
subjects for decorative illustration on the walls