17TH CENTURY ART.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20045, 29 September 1930, Page 5

17TH CENTURY ART.

MR J. FITZGERALD'S LECTURE.

"When approaching the subject of English art we have to remember that the English people in the 17th century did not have the advantage of an artistic tradition, as did the southern peoples. Nevertheless painting in that period rose to its greatest heights in Northern Europe." Mr James Fitzgerald prefaced his lecture on "Art |in the 17th Century," before the Society for Imperial Culture on Saturday night with these words. The meeting of the Society, which was well attended, was presided over iby Professor J. Shelleyn Before discussing the art of the 17th century it was necesary to take into consideration the influence of the 16th century, said Mr Fitzgerald. _ One period suffered by contact with the other. Not having the advantage of in artistic tradition, the English jeople perforce allowed their aesthetic tendencies to lie tnore or less dormant. There wis some activity in the early days, but it almost altogether lay in the direction of the illumination of the weaving of tapestries, and the construction of stained-

glass windows for churches and cathedrals. It was recognised, however, that it was out of this very side-line of art—Mr Fitzgerald was referring to mediaeval illuminated manuscripts—that miniature painting evolved; and miniature painting reached an amazing height in the period under review. In fact, the 17th century saw a general advance in all matters artistic. "Henry VIII. had patronised Holbein ; iit a later stage Van Dyck visited England Altogether the Netherlands exercised a great influence on the English painters," the speaker continued. "Van Dyck's influence was exceptionally strong, although the most important era of the portrait artists did not arrive until the 18th century. In our period it was outside England that the great movements wete afoot." Mr Fitzgerald went on to discuss the artistic giants of the 17th century, mentioning in particular three- 1 - Reubens, Franz Hals, and Velasquez. At the conclusion of his lecture, which w&s illustrated by lantern slides, Mr Fitzgerald was accorded a vote of thanks. The proposer was Mr F. L. Hutchinson and the seconder Miss M. 0. Stoddart. A programme of songs, given during the evening, was as follows: —"Pasr torale" (Carey, 1685-1743), "Have You Seen but a White Lily GrowP" (Anon, 17th century 1 ), "Youth and Lore," (Vaughan Williams). Mrs P. A. Le Brun; "Serenade" (Schubert). ' On. Wings of Song" (Mendelssohn), "Chloe" (SdVard German), Mi" 0. R. Williamson.