The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-06-17
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1t is said that the record number
of canvasseS, $4,000, were sent in for
this summers exhibition of the British
Royal Academy, now being held at
Burlington House. London. OF that
number only 1000 were accepted.
At the opening of the show on the
first of May, the critics pronounced
| it the poorest aggregation of work that
| the Royal Academy has ever presented
for public view. But the writer from
whom I cleaned the information, goes
| on to say, that such is the way the
British critics always talk at the be-
| ginning of one of these exhibitions.
| Their remarks, however seem to fit
| in with the opinion of a competent
American critic, who. after seeing the
| latest productions of the European
artists in general. at the international
exhibition being held at the Carnegie
Institute at Pittsburgh, expressed an
opinion that Europe has fallen behind
America for the time being, at least.
1t is said that much of the wall
space at the Royal Academy exhibition
this year is taken up with royal COM
mand" pictures of court ceremonies,
etc, many of which are stilted. bonn
bastic and "gingerbready.''
Owing to the fact that each of the
artists composing the committee of
selection, has the right to enter two
pictures and can take a rather unfair
advantage of the other exhibitors in
selecting good places for their works,
also because there are regulations DIS
to the size of canvases sent in. and
as to the style of the framing. many
of the best English artists refuse to
exhibit at the Royal Academy.
On the cover of Arts and Decoration
duction of John Singer Sargent's
painting, THE Fountain"
1t shows a woman artist attired in
white, painting near the edge of
large fountain pool in an English or
French formal garden. Lounging
man attired in summer negligee, who
seems to be taking a lans aid interest
in the woman's work In the back
ground is the up-shooting spldy of the
fountain and the dark green foliage of
a dense mass of trees.
AS the colors, brush marks, and
other characteristics of Sargent's tech
nique, are very accurately reproduced,
this picturs niakes a good subject for
the study that artist work.
Among the many articles very we'll
worth reading in the above mentioned
magazine this month. are two that
seemed to the writer as being espe-
cially worthy of perusa1. They are
Thomas Sully-A Revelation of His
Art by Harvey NJ. Watts and wood
block Printing Redivivus," by Edward
Laroque Tincher. Both articles are
prOIuSelY Illustrated
The first mentioned of these gives
an interesting and instructive accoun.
of one of the two or three really
great artists of America during our
country's infancy. Men whose work
is only now beginning to get its just
share of Apr ciation.
The other article enters somewhat
into the technique of the revived art
| of engraving on wood blocks and
printing therefrom. 1t gives a clear
definition of the terms. wood cut
and wood engraving" It also tells
of most interesting international ex-
hibition of wood block" and wood
engraving prints which was lately
held at the Brown Robertson Gallery
in New York city.
The author of the article seems to
think that Lost Of the American work
shown was inferior to the foreign
work.
Another index to the rapidly accel-
Grating art sentiment spreading over
the United States, or better still. to
our fast growing realization of the
absolute necessity of art as a funda-
mental element of civilization. is the
Brooks Memorial Art Gallery at Mem
phis, Tennessee.
An article about this gallery is to
be found in the June number of The
American Magazine of Art" This ar
ticle is accompanied by three illustra-
tions. one of the exterior and two Of
the interior of the building.
The Brooks Memorial Art Gallery IS
parks which surround the city OF