The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-06
EFFECT OF WAR ON
 ROYAL ACADEMY Little of Lasting Merit in
 Pictures of War
BELGIAN IS PRAISED
Sculptor Attracts More Than Passing Attention -" Where Belgium Greeted Britain" Is
 Popular Canvas

London May 10-(correspondenee of the Associated Press )-This years Royal Academy exhibition of paintings and sculptures shows in marked fashion the presence of q European war A consid- erable proportion of the exhibits deal with war subjects. although the critics find little that they regard as of lasting merit
 Almost the only work universally praised in the press reviews of the open ing day is by a Belgian sculptor NJ Egide Rombeaux. It is statue of mol e than life size, entitled Premier Morn ing. The critic of the Morning 1ele- graph says. without more enthusiasm than the others, "outside the charmed circle where Rodin reigns supreme, no sculpture more remarkable in originality and poetry of conception has been seen of late years in public exhibition
 Speculate About Renaissance
 This Belgian work leads some of the critics to speculate to the possibihty of the war bringing about great renais- sance of art, literature, and music in the devastated parts of Belgium and northern France. The critic of the Post declares that the only real piece of artistic inspir- ation thus far produced by the War is the poem, "Chantons, Belges, Chantons, . written by Emile Cammaerts, q Belgian British poets, musicians, and painters, he says, have felt as yet very little of the human spiritual impulses of the war ~Our artists" he explains, ''in common with our literary men and musicians ap- parently regard the war from a purely professional viewpoint They seem to lack the stimulating experience evident in M Cammaerts poem. If a new ana nobler era of artistic thought and expression is to dawn in the course of the war. it will ncrft, fY, other countries where the wars serious ness has been impressed more poignantly on the minds and hearts of faen and women. The wanton destruction of old cities and glorious architectural monu- ments raised in ages of higher faith and accomplishment should quicken the artis- tic temperament of our allies and bring about a renaissance"
 One of the popular war pictures in the new academy will be Herbert Oli- viers 'Where Belgium Greeted Brit ain. It is a large canvas portraying a frontier post op the road from Dun kirk to Furnes on December of last year King George of England, in neat khaki and polished boots. is alightipg from his automobile to greet the King of the Belgians. while the staff stand rigidly at salute and the chauffeur casts an interested eye upon the Bel gian King.
 Another side of war, somewhat re- moved from the battlefield. is seen in John Lavery's "Wounded: London Hos- pilal" It portrays a long line of hos pital wards, with a strapping Gordon Highlander in the foreground, his wounded arm being dressed by a Red Cross nurse The serious business of war is keenly made evident by the sur eical implements on the glass tab Q, and by the helpless figure of band t.. a less tragic touch is felt in the con- vaioscent warrior smoking happily in a corner and in the warm spring sun- light which pours through an open door. The picture seems to be still un- finished, owing perhaps to the ia ct that the artist caught Flanders flue," form of influenza common among the troops who have been too long in trenches. He had to leave the hospital where he was painting this work and go to the seaside to recover.
 Picture Causes Comment
 The same artist contributes another war picture entitled "Armored Car Squadron w. l.. Wyllie also has two war pictures Fighting Line frcin ypres to the Sea- and Bringing in the Wounded Lion" The latter is so stag tlingly realistic that one critic questions the propriety of exhibiting IL IT tnlS picture IS lOunueQ on per sonal observation" says the critic, "or On duly ascertained fact, it furnishes evidence as to the state of the giant cruiser Lion after the North sea bat tie which no writer would have been allowed to reveal"
 Another brilliant war picture is Ma pier Hemys Black Flag This shows the pirates of a hundred years ago at work. A queer deckless vessel, armei with cannon of brass and crowded with pirates sailing openly under the black flag, attacks with apparent success a big schooner which is going at full sail in vain effort to escape.
 Norman Wilkinson's Battle Cruisers portrays the British Invincible and h. flexible engaging the enemy in the Falkland Islands action. glimpse of the fighting lines in France is given served. Those present were Mrs. James Hannigan, Mrs. Harry Elliott, Mrs