Art and Fashion

Woodville Examiner, Volume 3, Issue 281, 3 September 1886, Page 1 (Supplement)

Art and Fashion

The latest addition to the Melbourne Art Gallery is a picture by Albert Maigau, representing that most terrible of all griefs, the death of an only son, Fredogonda and Chilperic, finding that no human aid can help their darling, carry him to the tomb of St. Medard ; but the hope fondly cherished that the spirit of the Saint will aid their son is doomed to perish ; the poor lad dies on the journey. Why is it that the brush is made the instrument of ever presenting to our minds and sight the griefs which are always present in reality, without the aid of art to impress them. Surely, one would take more pleasure in looking on a happy scene than in gazing at the distracted grief of sorrowing parents. Fashion seems to have fallen in love with law, nearly all the new styles in caps and gowns having some connection with the woolsack. The students’ gowns are very becoming to tall, slight figures, and the caps, made in velvet and having silk tassels, are very stylish, and sot off a pretty piquant face to great advantage. Shakespeare's Portia has given her name to as pretty and becoming a style of cloak as has been seen for some time ; the long, loose, hanging sleeves being lined with a bright, warm-colored satin, look very cosy on a cold day, and give an artistic touch of color to the graceful wearer. Shortly we shall see flitting figures clad iu the long plain cloaks and cowls of the monk, making our streets look like some half-forgotten continental city inhabited by “ holy friars.” These cloaks will give dignity to the wearer, and, being in sombre colors, will assist iu toning down the gaudiness which our colonial taste has been accused—justly or unjustly—of favoring. Our art students may be interested in knowing that the Paris people are at last