ART AND ARTISTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2244, 4 March 1897, Page 48

ART AND ARTISTS.

• . • Mrs G. F. Watts, the wife of the great artist, is very expert in monldiDg. She has decorated the ceilings of Limn ersl ease, the beautiful Surrey home of Mr Watte, with charming designs. Over the doorway Bhe has placed a finely modelled rose to convey the old idea of sub rota as to the nacrednes3 of conversation. • . • Mr Phil May («ays the Magnet.) smokes enormous cigars. He is one of the j least conventional even of artists who affect | Bohemianiem. He has been seen in the Strand with a frock coat, yellow boots, and a straw hat. He often receipts an account by rapidly drawing his own characteristic face across that of her Gracious Majesty, with the inevitable cigar between bis teeth. Which is a strange irony, Beeing that the Queen loathes 'baccy. • . • I heard a good story the other day, which is worth repeating, Bays a writer in the Succesß. A wealthy parvenn Invited a notable academician to dinner, and, before dining, invited him to look through his picture gallery. The RA. consented, but his host could not get a word of criticism out of him. The academician did not dare to risk his reputation by guaranteeing the pictures he saw. At last, in despair, the host exclaimed, " Well, at least you must admit that it is a tolerable collection ? " " Tolerableyes," allowed the R.A., with a meaning smile, adding, " but what would you think of a tolerable egg ? " ■ . ■ The chief attraction of the Studio's winter number will be found, by the many in the pencil drawings and word sketch by Robert Louis Stevenson. These sketches were unearthed by Mr Joseph Pennell. Mr Pannell says : "It has so happened that for .some years I have been aware of the existence of a whole series of little books, written in verse, which are virtually unknown save to his friends, which are so rare that even the British Museum has been unable to obtain a complete set, which he illustrated himself. . . . These books have lately been placed In my hands, as well as an unpublished chapter, ' In the Oerennes with a Donkey.' " • . • "My life," «»ys Rosa Bonheur in an account given to an American journal, "is that of a peasant. I wake with the day, and lie down to sleep almost at nightfall. Early in the morning I Btroll in tb« garden with my doge, or drive my pony cart through the Forest of Fontainebleau. Towards 9 o'clock I take my seat before the easel and work until half -past 11 ; then I breakfast, quite simply, and afterwards smoke my cigarette as I ran through the daily papers. I resume my work at 1 o'clock, and at 5 I go oat for a walk. I love to see the sun sink behind the trees of the forest. My dinner is as simple as my breakfast. I finish the day by reading." Ths books she prefers are on travel, buntitig, or history. Often, she adds, she reads the Bible. • . • Under the title of " Drawn with the Mouth " a writer in the January Magazine of Art gives a readable and sympathetic paper on Mr Bartram Hiles, an artist who has won a name for distinctive work, notwithstanding the faot that he is minus both arms. His work is accredited with an excellent sense of design, of balance and composition, as well as firmness of drawing and precision of touch. Mr Bartram Hiles waß born in I Bristol. When he was eight years old he was deprived of both his arms through a tramcar accident. Before this terrible event — a catastrophe which would have overwhelmed most other persons — he had developed a Btrong passion for drawing, so strong that the loss of arms in no way diminished his ambition to become an artist. At first the check to the gratification of bis boyish tastes was to the child a cruel blow; but the idea soon occurred to him that the main diffisulty would be overcome if he could educate his mouth as a holder for his penoil — 'for brushes were not yet hoped for. He accordingly set to work with courage and enthusiasm, and in a short time, by dint of persistent practice and perseverance, be found that he could write legibly and draw with firmness of line. Not more than two years after his accident, Mr Hiles obtained a " first-class excellent " in the second grade for freehand (1) drawing at the sohool be was - attending at Bristol. In due time he was sent to attend the art claas, then recently formed, at the Merchant Venturers' Technical College, Bristol. While there he made rapid progress, successfully passing nnmarous art examinations, the subjects including modelling. His next object was to study applied design, with a view to competing for a scholarship later on, and concurrently he practised painting at the studio of a local artiat of repute. At the age of 16 Mr Hiles exhibited a study in water-colours at the Bristol Fine Art Academy. It found a purchaser, and the young artist's career was fairly begun. His triumphs since then have been interesting and various.

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