Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-05-17
ROYAL ACADEMY
PAINTINGS MOT
UP TO STANDARD
War Subjects Predominant in.
Exhibit, but Critics Find Lit
tie Upon Which to Bestow
Much Praise.

Academy exhibition of paintings and
sculptures shows in marked fashion
the presence of European war. A
considerable proportion of the ex-
hibits deal with war subjects, al
though the critics find little that they
regard as of lasting merit.
Almost the only work universally
praised in the press reviews of the
opening day is by q Belgian sculptor,
NJ Egide Rombeaux. Ii is a statue of
more than life size, entitled premier
Morning" The critic of the Morning
Telegraph says, without more eRthusi-
asm than the others, "outside the
charmed circle where Rodin reignsI
supreme, no sculpture more remark
able in originality and poetry of con-
ception has been seen of late years
in public exhibition A-s -sss-
belgian Renaissance Possible.
This Belgian work leads some of
the critics to speculate as to the
possibility of the war bringing about
a great Renaissance Of art. literature.
and music in the devastated parts of
Belgium and northern France. The
critic of the Pest. declares that the
only real piece of artistic Inspiration
thus far produced BY the war is the
poem "Chantons, Belges, Chantons,
written by Emile Cammaerts, a Bel
gian. British poets, musicians and
painters, he says, have felt as yet lit
tie of the human or spiritual inn
pulses of the war. fDnr artists" he
explains. "in common with our liter
airy men and musicians, APPARENTLY re-
gard the war from q purely. profess |
sional viewpoint. They seem to lack |
the stimulating experience evident in
NJ. Cammaerts poem. If new and |
nobler era of artistic thought and ex-
preston Is to dawn in the course Of
the war; ii will begin in France or
Flanders. or in the other countries (
where the wars seriousness has been |
impressed more poignantly on the |
minds and hearts OF men and women |
The wanton destruction of old cities
and glorious architectural monu- .
ments raises in ages of higher faith /
and accomplishment should quicken
The artistic temperament Of our allies
and bring about Renaissance
one Of the popular war pictures
in the new academy will be Herbert
divers .'Where Belgium Greeted
Britain 1t is large canvas por-
traying frontier post on the road
from Dunkirk to Furnes on Decem-
her of Last year King George Of
England, in neat Khaki and polished
boots, Is alighting from his automo-
bile to greet the king Of the Religions,
while the staff stand rigidly at salute /
and the chauffeur casts an interested
eye upon the Belgian king. A
Scene In Hospital.
Another side of war, somewhat re-
moved from the battlefield, is seen in Z
John Layery's wounded: London
Hospital 1t portrays long line of
hospital wards, with a straping Cor
don. Highlander in the foreground,
his wounded arm being dressed by f
Red Cross nurse The serious business
OF war is keeniy made evident by the
surgical implements on the glass
table. and by the helpless figure of a
bandaged saldier in the nearest cot,
while q less tragic touch is. felt in
the convalescent warrior smoking
happily in a corner and in the warm
spring sunlight which pours through
an open door, The picture seems to
De still unfinished, owing perhaps to I
the fact that the artist caught GLAND
ers flues" a form of influenza common
among the troops who have been
too long in trenches. He had to leave
the hospital where he was painting
NtiS WIN anu 81 W ivy ooHSiut "
recover. /
The same artist contributes another
war picture entitled s+Armored Car 4
Squadron" W, l.. Wyllie also has two
war pictures, Fighting Line From L
ipres to the Sea" and bringing in Il
Inc Wounded Lion" The latter is SO
startlingly realistic that one critic
questions the propriety of exhibiting
Y II this picture is founded on per-
sonal observation" says the critic
or on duly aseertained fact. II fur
hishes evidence as to the state of the
slaht cruiser Lion after the North sea
pdttie which no writer would have II
peen allowed to reveal"
Days of Piracy.
! Another brilliant war picture is
Napier Hemy's BLACK Flag" This
SHOWS the pirates of hundred years
ago at work. A queer declSless vessel
arned with cannon Of brass and
gtowded with pirates sailing openly
under the black flag. attacks with