New-York tribune., 1908-04-05
AN ENGLISH VENETIAN
Mr. Frank Brangscyn as a Deco
r1tiUe COlOnst.
London. March %.

London. March %.
Mr. BranEwyn was known a clever decora-
tive artist on the Continent before his talents
were recognized in England. A Welshman born
in Bruges, he had been trained in Paris and
been strongly Influenced by Tintoretto and the
Venetian school, and was an entirely inde-
pendent worker in London. carrying out his
own schemes Of decoration without reference
to academic conventions. When he was elected
an associate at Burlington House it was not
because he had been soliciting patronage or
trying to force his way into the social circle,
but because the Academy had been Sharply
criticised for favoring weak men and misusing
the Chantrey fund, and it was necessary 10
offer proof that it appreciated originality and
power Mr. Brangwyn accepted this distinction
as he had taken the honors showered upon him
in Munich. Paris, Milan. Madrid and other
centres of foreign art, and continued to work
AT his studio in Hammersmith in his way,
employing one medium after another and aim
ing at breadth of treatment and decorative
effect His paintings seldom displayed at
the Academy, and his etchings and autographs
were not exhibited anywhere, and those who
had not seen his panels for the Sktnners's Hail
and for the British section Of the International
Exhibition at Venice or his work in CONT
mental museums and at Pittsburg did not know
how robust an artist and how fervid a deco
ratve colorist he was.
His individuality and power are revealed at
the Fine Art Rooms where over eighty OF his
works are now on exhibition. Many OF these
are etchings of considerable originality and dec
orative quality. His skill as craftsman is ap-
parent in the Autographs Music, DrlnK anu
Man with a Hoe" where precise yet beautiful
effects are produced by simplicity OF line Inc
etchings are more complex and ornate compost
tions sometimes pulsatlng with action Dut
oftener rugged IN style. While he does not
play with light and shadow in his plates as he
does with blends of color in his oil panels ana
cabinets he shows what a strenuous worker ne
is His Venetian Boatyards,' Breaking UP or
the CaIedonian" Lea avng Work, Bottle
Washers" and Bark Strippers' are working
dramas; and the Butchers Shop and other
pieces have the vivaCity of comedy. In dealing
with masses Of dark and light in San Sofia
and Santa Maria della Salute he works on
zinc as he would canvas, and brings color
and richness of tone out of the plate. Delcacy
of line and fineness of texture he seldom affects,
but he enriches his work with breadth of crafts
rnanship and striking effects Of chiaroscuro-
The drudgery of toflsome and uncertain proc
esses does not frighten him. for while he Is
daring experimenter apd spoils many plates he
is a prodigious worker. and perseveres until
satisfied with results.
1t is when Mr.. Brangvyn has palette IN
hand that his gift for decoration enables him
TO play with glints of color. Allegory he
despses: idyls with angels or satyrs he does not
invent: mythology and fable he rejects with the
cynical spirit of modernism. He is pre-emi-
nently a decorative colorist, with broad method
Of balancing contrasts and harmonizing blends
until sumptuous beauty is the final effect Of ar
tistic composition. It is not the design but the
arrangement of blues and yellows that makes
the two large panels exhibited at Venice highly
decorative There is no complex allegory TO be
unravelled: there is mystical or poetic story
in paint but there is rich harmony of
color In the ca binet pictures, whether grave or
gay, he depends mainly upon the decorative re-
sources of paint, and puts it on as though he
having a holiday revel. The Festa,
Venice" has an opulence of color that Is fairly
binding and what tranquil beauty there is in
the Montreuil and Bruges scenes, with their
lower tones How brilliantly decorative is
Ghent, with its cleaning yellOws and browns.
and what q blaze Of light there is in Corn"
and how tranquil the harmonies of the
French evening scenes, with foliage massed
against the fading gray Of the sky! /. n. F.