1960-05-09 — Page 6

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Pago 6

THE CHINA MAIL MONDAY, MAY 9, 1960.

Sickert-the Old Master

who used photographs

FOGARTH, Gains-

H

borough, Constable, Turner, Sickert: I offer this list of our five greatest painters with no apology whatever.

1 LIST HIM AS ONE OF ENGLAND'S

FIVE GREATEST PAINTERS

Walter Biliard Slekert came, Bhat in ense mye protests on his father's side, from th that instead of Sickort I should footly of Daulsh painters and have written Reynolds, Blake, craftsmen: his father's pastels Bonington, Millats or Myınbigs, were admited by Degas." His I had better piter an explanation. maternal grandparents were

A great painter should be a scarcely less remarkable more than pussable draughtsman Wish dancer and a Cambridge which nother Reynolds nor astronomer who was also a Blake ever became. He should brilliant wit and letter-writer. avol Basty, facile description - the pitfall of Bonington and Munnings.

He should never resort to sentimental blackmail -- the be setting sin of Millus and must of the Victorians.

And he should steer clear of those twin bugbeats of English printing, Cloud Paste and Pro vincialism.

How many

Apart fron Sickert, how many English painters of the past 100 years have fulfilled all these conditions?

Genius can never be explained by heredity, but it is signlifeant that two of Stekerl's major qualifies - craftsmanship and wit—were part of his family make-up,

His mixed blood is more im- pasat Sickert was in some respects. it thoroughly English artist. No one has ever pain feri The secdier side of London Tile with greater understanding fut wherens most of his English con- temporaries despised the Con- timent, Sickert loved it.

By DAVID CARRITT

antics, blinded many to Stckeri's Immense seriousness. He was, in fact, the last of our Old Masters, linked through Desgas to ingres and the great artists of the Renaissance.

But as he once pointed out. the only sound reason for com- plaining that a picture tells a story is that the story is slity or psychologically false. Admitted- ly, many of Sickerl's best ple- fures tell stories, but they are stories worthy of Maupassant By this I do. NOT mean that; 1rivial ordinary happenings he was a reactionary In 1913 he transformed by exquisite delfency wrote that "Propress lies in the of abservation Everything Is in slow unfolding of * profound the telling or rather, in the and comprehended CHINIT painting

As Sickert blouself once said, the subject of a picture could be stated in words, there would be na need to paint it."

of

The only "pure" beauty he Through

Jost master, cared for was the beauty whistler, he got to know Degas architecture and the old masters and Pissarro,

Venice, Dieppe and Hath were among his favourite subjects.

And although he never became a pure Empress Nincluen-sixty will give us the sionist, le.. an on-the-spot pain- opportunity of seeing just how for observing a specifle theory good he was. The centenary of about light and colour, he is the his birth has already inspired only English painter whose ple- two West End galleries (Agnews tures can bang harmoniously in Bond Street, Roland Browse beside Degas's.

and Delbaner in Cork Street) fo

gfage achniralde Sickert exhibi- Most famous

tons. There will be another, on

a for larger scale, at ibe T Gallery this summer.

TALKING

POINTS

JI

Eccentric

*

But marvellous as his paint- inga of them are, his must

contribution to original

artis naked

summe

vati:01."

The keyward, as his pictures. prove, is "progress,"

-(London Express Service).

DOMNER

HOVERCRATI

"Why don't we design a solid-fuelled, vortical take-off painsongor carrying supersonic missifa launched by submarine or V-bomber to be built with the French and Gormans?'

Success

་་་ ་་ ་

or

civil

...ALL AFRICAN · EYES

ARE ON THE CONGO and al are staggered at

From LORD LAMBTON, MP who is touring Africa

lite parks ander glass THE Congo is the key to Africa. If after July 1

whom stuffed birds domes. are the

London Express Servére.

15

war?

to

Indeed, externally, Leupold- Perhaps the best hope would M. Patrice Lumumba ville appears to be a thriving be if the country

to become were to be favourite

the first modern town, but look deeper divided into Ave or six nearly National leader. But if you qalı

the autonomous states under a if he will stay here, you get the risk that Belgium has taken in federal government. This would same answer as is rightly given suddenly ranting independence, enable local leaders 10 assert to every question: "It is fri-

their authority and allow un- possible to tell." foundations hompered local development.

Absolutely

2143

have been laid. As un ilustra- tion of this, I was told by a responsible authority that there Is not now one coloured lawyer, doctor or accountant in

the

the transition from Belgian to home rule is country. This is perfectly pus "We have a use for the draw- peaceful and efficient, nationalistic demands all sible as has been Belgium's

bug-room." h caricature it,"

wrote

And to tease it, he might have adklud.

over the continent will rise to fever pitch.

pulley to keep every responsible position in their own hands.

the shabby interior: a woman (never a nude) stretched 0:1 au iron bedstead in a post-Impres frowsty back-roun Was bot

in Camden siona, either, although he saw Hilt; the tawdry baroque splen- the point of Cezanne, Van Gogle dours of the London music hails; and Gaugin, Itather he belonged (East Ead, not West); his own to that group of

penters Bonsard and Vulard most famous examples.

Art stoba mwy prefer them, beenuse they happened to he French. 1 prefer the evidence of

If the uther hand, free est air strip in the world, or the Bonnard himself, who brought

doan comes in a background drive When everyone raved about of riots bloodshed

through the tree-lined hang in his own collection. Sickert quite good enough to Cezanne Sickért made copies war, every coloulat power

and civit garden suburbs to the skyscrap- after Frith. When naturalism Afrien will argue that the case

in ing centre of Leopoldville. Sickert's particular genius was was everywhere decried. Sickert for going slowly has been proved

To remedy this lack of trala- or transforming squalor into worked from photographs and the South African Govern reived opinions, was expecting ing

Nor, with ceriała precon- Ing, however, they are now try- few chosen visual poetry. I should legitimate procedure incidentally, meni will gruuly justify upari- to find the native housing estates Africans with add. His hatred of the "pure" sanctioned by Turner and Degas. held.

knowledge by

art theories preached by so many

How brilliant results could

far and away superior to any appointing them to an executive of his contemporaries led him to be may be gauged from his

n financial board The risk

thing in either British or South comeil and bait them with literary titles picture of King Edward Vill now

Africa. Built in varying shapes where they can get an idea of Everything in the Congo Is nnd ("What shall

the machinery of government. surrounded by for the in the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, astonishing, I was not prepared flowering trees. No reit!"

they and "1 all comes

Coripura Such eccentricities, combined for the sheer beauty of the very - JOHN HENRY NEWMAN, sticking to a sailor.")

with

favourably with Inay outrageous public country, or to land on the long- European housing estater.

A man's life is interesting primarily when he has failed. It is a sign that he tried to surpass himself.

- CLEMENCEAU,

Calculation never made a

hero.

poetry

wit

OGA

E'S one of the tall ones.

HE

his

LAY

About 6ft 3in of

American manhood, looking more because of his rangy slimness. He's also one of the quiet ones, making him an unusual specimen of American manhood. Especially successful, dollar-heavy American manhood.

In fact Allen Drury, author of "Advise and Consent," me of the better best-sellers in America and Britain, is not at all what you'd expres.

Even allowing for the fact that the author is seldom like the book, that the facade of the writer rarely resembles

the

A

fabrle of his work, Drury is Gurprise. A miki, pleasant sur- parise.

prunted on Broadway before the Him."

10

Mr Drury was beginning sound more like a P.R.O. Onc of the White House Press con- ferences than an Inquiring news- paperman who used to attend them,

a

He was just as non-committal about the characters in his book, which is frank though not over-sensationalised exploration You're prepared for an in of the swamp of Washington vigorating. brushi gust, and political life. Instead you encounter a balny, seporine zephyr.

He wafted down the shar of the Dorchester hotel and join- ed me in the lounge. We look toa.

With lemon. We passed

a few low-priced items of shop talk across the labiz.

Contentment

Mr Drury a trained news-

wilasi paperman has spent the last 17 years as a Senate corres- pondent for American papers la Washington.

Now that "Advise and Con- Berut."

his first novel, has atl- vanced him to financial Inde-

pendence he has resigned to com- centrate on magazine articles and

a second novel,

I asked him if he could say roughly how much the first hai

Revelling

His millions of readers are still revelling in the defamatory game of guessing which real-life per- sonages are represented by the book's characters, many of wisom.

The

bird

colours

WHO KNOWS AND TELLS IN HIS UNMISTAKABLE WAY

mildest

I've met...

-THIS MAN WHO

STARTED

THE CHARACTER-

KILLING GAME

are draped in the thiest of be atleed about the presidentful Relitious vells.

election and McCarthyism.

in-

Can you identify the somewhu! "It's impossible to make any emasculated British Ambassilor? accurate forecast. But I'm Or the Senator who took his own clined to think that the next life rather thus have li shattered President will be Mr

Nixon'

A non-smoking almost teetotal newspaperman with no particu- Iar woman in his life, wife or fiancee. And no apparent vlers.

Kant wont to

THE DUKE of by exposure as a homosexual? (Note the polite, almost deferen- London Stork Room the other Or the Indian dipkennt, a master inl. Mr.)

night. He Arrived at 10 p.m. of Oriental double-talk, who is

alone, Ho drank

London Express service.

!1!

Both of them. know, have been Told by more than management that their bookings! cannot be accepted.

Uncertainty

crani

1

I dined with the Governor- General to meet 15 of these men on whom the future of the Congo depends. They were quiet, and well spoken, some of them wore the badges of their political parties and all that I spoke to

believed that the Congo can have a stuble political future.

(London Express Service).

THE SAGA OF

RED

ROBBIE

By NOEL CRAIG

So "Red Robbie" has gone to join his former comrades-in-arms In Valhalin.. Lieut-General Sir Horace Robertson, better known as Red Robbie throughout the Australian Forces during the war and the Occupation days in Yet, when I asked how this Japan, was a courageous soldier. was going to come about, I re- reived no satisfactory answer. The stories about him wero Never have known such un-legion and they will remain to certainty. Nobody is sure of be told and retold for at least anything, or is even prepared to

another generation. guess what is going to happen.

What has been made is enormous leap into the dark,

For when the Belgions go,

The Arst one I heard Was testimony to his nature and his fearlessness.

The Italian armies had been swept out of the Western De sert and Cyranocía. Those who

captured cumparison had not been

dead or fleeing towards Tripali.

Both of them will be appear- ing before the Queen in the they leave a huge vacuum, How Royal Variety Performance on great this could be can be better

understood by May 16.

with our civil service.

And both of them, of course, ar coloured. But I um not suggesting for a moment, gentle- mth, that you are influenced by that fact. Not nowadays in Lone don, the capital of toleranen,

1

Gleam of hope

A

Robble leaned over his desk and snarled, “I like to be filend- ly with my offleera; I ilke to be famillar with them---BUT I DON'T WANT THEM WAVING ME GOODBYE, GET OUT!"

Of he went to bore to join countless others.

The storics rolled on and no one to fight, lobbie, with were became garrulous.

The Armoured Division WAA In the process of being dis- Benghazi hnd fallen, but banded, and Robbie had selected Wave's forces had spent them his saluting base on one side of selves and were shackled by a railway crossing, knowing full Jack of equipment with victory well, that a train would come just beyond reach,

along and divide thờ” column.

bandtul af Apart from Africans in the lower grodes,

The subject was under dis- It was just one of his little Yes, yes, I know that you will | Europeans - hold alt the key

than positions be very busy busier

in the Helgian Civil Cussion one night in Benghazi tricks to be B-minded,

und in one of those hushes ever before.

Service. So if there is violen which occur during argument a

'Oliday

One of our spokesmen at the anti-white prejudice after the voice was heard to say:

elections and a move by the MORE Savoy, where incidentally Mr Africans to govern themselves, "Give me three stout ships

The train duly arrived and Cole's managers (who are white) the country will be about as and a bearing on Rome and I'll during the pause pn: ADC eaked

staying, told me that efficiently run as England would dine in

of the two children playing in front of you will be overcrowded this if all our senior civil servants Caesars.”

the saluting base why they wore month especially because of the were sucked and their places

not at school. Commonwealth Prime Ministers'

taken by typlats and porters. Conference.

are now

hotel.

the

Holla

No one doubted it either. Robbic WI martinet [~

However, a gleam of hope is tolerant of klockness. Not so long ago you accom- |

Ability to move In a hurry modated Lena Home, who is that the Belgians are aware of

this and are anxious to make was not just a fetish, it was his coloured, but then she was niso their Civil Service as cosmio- law and heaven help the lag- uppering in cabaret at the politan 13 possible by the gard.

Injection into it of British, Still, obviously, you apply no French, Swiss and Swedish-or, colour bar. Why, your sister indeed, any capable man hotel, Clarkine's, is always open can do the job. to maharajahs, whose skin Is niso dark.

Interests

who

Pack up

Units ander

they

knotes.

and

"Why

One urchin looked up disdainfully repited, dani yer ask Red Robbie. 'e

It's an 'oliday." Robble turned to the sembled ofleers and said, "You the see, even the children in streets know mo."

09-

There were countless Glorios sublime

During the Occupation ap villeer had the courage to lefl Robble a current story aboyl

By avoiding criticism,

command of his arrogance, his hope to return their vast indus-were expected to pack up and faith in himself and ponchant but far the be on the move in 10 minutes; for notoriety. WRONG, DADDY tria

greatest danger is that tribal officers in less time. wars will break out, that the The Duke of Bedford took bis country will be torn and divided

A subaltern was told to re- called Kriana Kholee! (this is I tried bins on the subject of whiskien alone. He signed the a schoolboy friend to see the the vacuon and use the country

a couple of 18-year-old son Lord Rudolf and and that the Russians will fill port to Robbie as he was not up himself.

lo scratch. one of the easiest)?

sudden succes, the second r bill in a neat hand D. Edward" revue "Harlem Heatwave" ntin an ligion for many Americans, who Mr Drury sal back and threw have a touching faith that it can and at 12.30 he loft — alone. me one of those goldly sincere edity and transform but and directly P.RO. honest looks, corrupt. which usually mean that you're

not going to get the facts.

made him up to his last bank Delighted

ontry.

He smiled, contentedly show- ing a net of non-smoking, virgin white teeth that would Inspire any adverthing copy writer,

"I reckon about half a millio dollers. But of course it will finally add up to more including tho full figuro for the film and play rights which I've mold tu Olto Preminger,

*They're now doing an adapla- tion of the play willch will be

never

+

the food.

+

attempt to dominate

Local warfare

for

ព

un

MocArthur had already am He knocked on Robbie's dear the, Pigalle theatre restaurant, Africa.

and, on entering "Die presence" cended to Heaven whore he was met by Peter at the Pearly As the duke ordered the wines He decided to miss the cabaret

he was so sunred be forgot in Gates, }} con saich which features Mise Cha Lan adolescent assurance: "But aure- with supreme

salute.

MacArthur painted to a figuro "I've tried not to let all the who stripteases and plays ly that isn't the right wine for

Robble looked the oneer over in the distance and asked; Chopin on the plane. She is a

"Who's that?" fuss and publicity affect me. My great favourite among customers

and then said: "How long does

thai. it was friends tell me I'm just the who sit alone.

Poter told him Already in the Kasai Province it take you to prepare The duke accepted this with

God same as I was before."

amused calm and resignation. As

a certain amount of local war- | move?"

Well, tell him to move over, on and in the I didn't know Mr Drury be- may not regrat,

It is a decision he mayor every father knows, he hadn't fare is going

Belgion

The unsuspecting. Trust

Itobble'R subaltern Rod

coming nuch choice.

Territory of He said: "What I've always fore, but I'm sure his friends are

Ruanda, which does not yet get replied: "Only 10 minutes, Sir." shortly." replied, when this question is right.

★ NO ROOM

Then get packed and get Independence, and where a tace

Roblin looked at the afleer brought

back to Base," growled tho i thot ke all 1712 writers I've drawn from life but If they're not, the pre-publicu-

and merely mid, “Quite, quite, DEMOCRATICALLY and finally, of aristocratic giants linger on, AT THE INNS from the dukes to the dustman, there

General. bas been widespreadi

J quite understand." I've also used my; Imagination, tion Mr Drury inust have been

The dustman whoes cart was

wretched Flabbergasted the

And so the stories go.

Bome Let's say, the characters are an astonishingly modest and re- Mame to the managers of Lone parked

naxa to

oficer staggered to the dour and trus) some the my car nose

dgment of composites."

tiring follow!,

dog's leading West End kolols:- Marylebone Road and who was The great question is will on reaching it, he suddenly re- imagination. A safo answer flint James A character that couldn't be

squatting beside it in the altar. these oral feuds spread when, membered that he had again. True or not thou, were all a WHY la there no

pointer to the man's character) Hagerly or

room, naan sunshine intently reading after the elections, many of the omitted to valute, Krislina Menon played even by the self-effacing senilemen, for two of in tattered

portler, which would have been proud of, James Stewart (they

With a ragged salutation he Dui puhigtøyer #las mew be held Freud's politicnt Ik would have been duwding.

slire a month's visitors-Nat King Cole "Paycho-pathology of Everyday based on tribai association, and made for the door aries more about Robbie there wa elongated resem- and Sammy Davis Junt Or there Life"

thenmeives or the authority when Hobble barked: "Come thing no one could đenů - he delighted with Mr Drury when blance).

appears to be no room,

-- ~~~(London: Express Service), al traditional rivals,

There, young min”

was a damned good spidier.

Stay

paperback.

•

A1

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