ART AND ARTISTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2490, 4 December 1901, Page 68

ART AND ARTISTS.

ART AND RELIGION.

— "English Water-colour"' is the title of a now publication about to be issued from the office? of the Studio. The woik will be completed in eight monthly parts, and each part will contain eight large facsimile reproductions in colours from paintings by the moit prominent artists of the English school, from the time of Sandby (1725-18C9) down to the present day. — The Duke of Mavlborough is believed to be the possessoi of the costliest painting in the world, which was at one time the property of the first Duke of Marl borough. The picture is known as the " Blenheim Madonna," painted by Raphael in 1507, and now valued at no less than £70,000. It is Bft high, and represents the Madonna and Child seated on a throne, with a figure of St. John the Baptist on the left, and thac of St. Nicholas of Bari on the right. Its almost fabulous value is due to the fact that it is one of the best-preserved of the aitic't's works in existence.

— Mr Briton Riviere, R.A., surely created a record in exhibiting two works at the Royal Academy at the age of 17. For generations the Rivieres have been artists. His, father, who was head of the drawing school at Cheltenham College, prepared the way for the young Briton, aiding his boyish essays at the "Zoo," helping to perfect him m colour and brushwork at Cheltenham, and maViug Oxford a favourable ground for the dtvelopment of a budding artist by getting art iimodnced into the curriculum of tho University. Not only did Mr Riviere 1,1 o\v uj-. in an atmosphere, of art, but he si:mod with a store of heieditary ability that enabled him to sell a picture for £20 at the avjc of 12.

Tho Rev. Dr Black ot Si C4eorge's Free C'.niroli. Edinburgh, who is making a tour ot tho United States and Canada, expresses lnm«olf as follows on the unity ot nt and lchgion : — " 1 like art imnionsoly. Oh, the ait galleries of Europe have av> attentive spectator in me ! The one that I prefer is in Madrid. It, reveals Velasquez. There was the inimitable painter! You are not right in thinking that art is art independent of ieligion. The greatest works of art were also woik:- of religious faith. " Tho masterpieces of the Greeks were achir\ed in the time when Greece believed 1 111 it? »ods. Michael Angelo and Raphael were religious men. The church was always artistic. Has it not done everything for music and architecture?

"At tho Reformation there wa= 1 danger that art 111 painting and sculpture nngli*duoit the faithful fiom love of religion to love of art ; then there wc%s an objection to statues and pictures on ethical grounds. No, you cannot persuade me that ethics and sssthetics are not at one ! I shall write a book on the subject. " The deeper the faith the better the art. Religion and art are at one, ethic? and religion are at one, therefore ethics and ait are at one."