The San Francisco call., 1908-08-30

The principal feature OF interest in
the local art world during the week
has been the exhibit. by Miss Lille
Lawlor OF small collection OF rare
original drawings by old and modern
masters. including Watteau. Boucher,
Manet, Puvis de Chavannes, Cain.
Barye, Meissonier. BOnheur and Others
These drawings are hung at the Fair
mont hotel, where they have been.
admired by many art lovers. A paint
ing by Jean Baptiste Fauvelet of
girl, young and graceful, seated in
chair reading from an open book is
particularly interesting, and the de-
ineatiOn OF the figure OF an old peas
ant with pipe in mouth and hands
clasped behind his back, by Meissonier.
IS remarkable in its presentation OF
vigorous. hardy life IN a few charac-
teristic lines. De Chavannes is repre-
sented by a number of male and fe-
male figures in all postures and modes
OF action, and the Boucher manner is
shown by q reclining female figure
rather too heavy and gross for modern
tastes. A wonderful architectural de-
sign OF Hubert Roberts is shown, with
splendid spaces and a rare effect of
depth and breadth which is most pleas
ing, and an example OF Watteau's style
is given in e number of fun skirted
women and loose cloaked men. Miss
Lawlor intends to have an exhibition
Of these drawings in New York early
IN December and to this end will leave
fo- the east some time next week
UNIQUE WATER COLOR WORK
A second unique and truly charm
ing exhibition and one which san
Frenciscans may not have an oppor-
tuuity OF Witnessing again for some time
was held last week at the bookshop OF
D1rr1 Elder IN
exhibit consisted OF illumination in
water colors done on calfskin and vel
lum, and used TO ornament rare books
bound iE gazelle skin. old brocade
Turkish morocco or Spanish or Rus
sian leather. The Illuminating work
was after the manner OF the work of
the monks OF the tenth century and
was good example OF the height to
which modern decorating may aspire
The principal book Of the 20 exhibited
was guest book for hunting lodge.
This was bound IN gazelle. skin of
fawn color and spotted with white
and was mounted In copper of Gothic
design On the title page were the
lines:
Tie roe. fun reckless here she runs,
To make thee game and glee
The falcon and the pheasant both
Among the holts On bee
Wen lodged here mays thou be.
These guest books carry out an old
English idea, that OF having a book
kept in the hall of the house, where
guests may inscribe their names, thus
doing away with the custom of card
leaving.
The exhibition, which was the work
OF Robert Wilson Hyde, comprised
many other books-family registers
wedding books. marriage certificates
and gift books. all nIumined in wonder
fully intricate designs usually worked
around some old English or French
motto. or q verse from some old writer.
LEGENDS ON BINDINGS
lie GalHenne's Rubaiyat furnished
quotations for q charming book bound
tiQue furniture. which with the othsr
larger works was valued at from $3.50
70 $500. The covers OF the books were
mounted in metals set with semi-pre-
ctous stones. such as lapis lazuli, tur-
quoises. coral. jade and amethyst, lend
ing a soft glittering effect which was
indisputably fascinating.
An old fashioned scroll on a man
zanita rod bore an old Arabic verse
Listen 10 the exhortation OF the
dawn" Above an exquisitely decorated
mirror ran the legend. .sYe Gamma ex-
pect 10 be bath graund and comfort
able" and above q second mirror in
tended for a guest room was such a
dainty compliment as this:
And more much more than in mr. verse doth sit
Nocr cwn glass shows you when you look In It.
These books. when made by the old
monks. usually were finished By num-
Der of persons, one doing the lettering.
another the decorations and a third the
mounting. Hyde does all the work on
his books himself. and as he says:
1t may take me two or three months
sometimes to complete one Of these
books. but I should like 10 be at work
on one which would take me years"
The artist has gone east. where the
demand for books such as he is able
to produce is very large
ART TEACHERS IMPROVE
That art in san Francisco is taking
great strides in the right direction is
shown by its corroboration of the ideas
expressed in an article in the New