Evening star., 1939-06-25

life size, are each so feet in length,
or, in other words, the procession
is l20 feet long.
At the far end of the reading
room, catching the readers eye in
stantly upon entrance, is small
panel, by way of Introduction, show
ing "Aprille with his shoures soote"
piercing the droghte of Marche to
the roote," or in the English of our
day, pouring upon the thirsty earth
a deluge of water which would seem
to come from the clouded sky, but
In reality is out turned from an
earthen crock held beneath April's
arm. The landscape upon which
this good gift falls is picturesque,
new life is in its sinews, trees are
budding, grass springing up; two
deer amble in the foreground;
against the sky is seen a flock of
birds. The composition is we'll bal
anced and the allegory well carried
out.
At the near end is another panel,
q lunette, showing three wandering
minstrels, a man and two boys
seated on knoll, playing gaily and
Justify. The instruments upon
which they play were undoubtedly
those of the time of Chaucer, and
It is not at all unlikely that the
Canterbury pilgrim met many such
playing by the wayside, for music
then was the art of the common
people and through this medium
they were accustomed to make
'merrie" In any event it is to the
music of these three, playing with
such evident JOY and abandon, that
the Canterbury pilgrims, lately come
to our city, will for all time step
lightly forward en- route to the
shrine of the martyr, Thomas a
Beckett.
Manner of Presentation.
OF these pilgrims themselves much
may be said, but first let us note the
way in which Mr.. Winter has pre-
sented them. His theme was by no
means simple-32 figures on 80
horses moving forward-to be set
forth without either monotony or
restlessness. Achieving this was his
first success and one eminently
notable. Then comes the triumph
of keeping his figures on the wall
(too often in such care are they in
clined to step out of their supposedly
fiat plane) and in this instance this
has been done without surrendering
the third dimension.
Finally there is the admirable
color scheme, like a bouquet of
spring flowers yet well balanced and
never confused, achieving the simu-
lated effect of paint on plaster, al
though in fact, they are done on
canvas-a delight to the eye and
satisfaction to the senses. Obviously
these mural paintings accord with
the architecture of the room for
which they were created, at the
same time that they serve as decora-
tions. This is the function of mural
painting at its best and the fact
that they tell story, and well, adds
to rather than takes from their
merit.
Follows Chaucer.
To great extent in picturing the
Canterbury pilgrims in these mural
paintings Mr.. Winter has followed
the order in which Chaucer himself
introduced them in his Prologue"
but IN some instances he has taken
the liberty accorded the artist and
rearranged them. And whv not2
Surely when this goodly company
wended their way, in the latter part
OF April, 1886. or thereabout, from
the Tabard Inn, Southwark, where
Chaucer Joined them, to Canterbury.
there must have been frequent re-
groupings. Only are we told that
the "Reve ever rode hindermost."
In the matter of dress also he has
apparently carefully followed the
text, studying at the same time, one
must believe, the costume of this