ARTISTS AND THE CORONATION

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 18, 3 May 1911, Page 45

ARTISTS AND THE CORONATION

Individualism is giving way to collectivist idea even in pageantry. The decoration of the Coronation route in London is likely to be carried out on co-operatire lines this time, several eminent artists having offered their services to organise a scheme of decoration. Hitherto the English, with their inveterate individualism have left each householder to do what he likes with his own house-front in the matter of decoration, and combination has seldom gone farther than hanging a festoon from one house to the building opposite. The result Is usually inharmonious and insignificant. But Sir William Richmond, Mr Frank Brangwyn, and the other artists who have offered to design schemes of decoration for whole streets, may change all that at the coming Coronation. The fact that the artists should have offered their services for this work is itself a very encouraging sign of a change for the better, and in Mr Bragwyn. England possesses a painter of distinction, whose

genius is essentially decorative in its bent. Mr Brangwyn has made a sketch of his idea foi the decoration of the Mall. He would treat the procession and its surroundings as if it were a great picture such as Rubens or Veronese painted, representing a glorified state of being in which the life of men has escaped from a mere confused routine, and become orderly and expressive like a piece of orchestral music. It is suggested that -there should be friendly competition of street with street in this matter of decoration; that every street on the Coronation route should choose its own artist, who would design a scheme of decoration according to the common fund provided for it England has the artists; the Coronation provides an unequaled opportunity. It re.nains to be seen whether the collectivist idea is sufficiently developed yet to blossom forth in concentrated schemes of decoration expressing high purpose and true beauty.