London, Nov. 28. from the tomb of the Tang Emperor I have already paid two long visits Tai Tsung, of the charger he rode at fo the Chinese Art Exhibltion—the the siege of Loyang. Alexander and "private view," when nothing can be Napoleon would have adored him. seen, 19 tommorrow and the opening One interesting feature isthe to the public on "Thursday—and. my Jnumber of Tang figurines which ire is to go again and again. have, as some would say, a distinctly peltat 4 Rot only because the mum Japanese touch. Of course it if just er and variety of things is so great the other way round. It was in the that little more than general Imprei-Tang dynasty that Japanese students slons can be got at one visit, but were flocking to China; here are because everything looks far more some of their models and inspirations. beautiful at the second sight and doubt not will go on looking lovelier Wondrous Depth of Col and lovelier with further acquaintance.
In the Ming rooms one catches For such is the nature of Chines: fono's breath at the wondrous depth art. It Is not just a fanciful idea but of the blue and white, At lunch the Feal experience that If you look other day Sir William Llewellyn, Jong and earnestly at any object, it President of the Royal Academy, said Seems to open out and diffuse about that the only term in Chinese art You its imperishable life and lap you with which the English public were Found in waves of beauty. How does familiar was Ming! They certain\y man contrive to impart such vitality might know a worse one. But after to the dead paste or metal that that seeing the radiant porcelain sands of years after he has gone the Burlington House, T should think they way of all flesh it still glows with would go home and smash most of electrical lite, their own "Ming." for no period of It Is to the credit of Burlington [Chinese art has lent itself" to such House that every piece has beer Junblushing and ill-deserved forgery. arranged so as to show it at its best.
It Is curious that there seems to There is not a single discord of shape One of the notable exhibits at the Chinese Art Exhibition, no Ming brass work in the Exhibi-or colour and character, And although tion, at least I did not see any. As there are over 3,000 exhibits of the you know well, there is no brass t0 Widest variety and size, ranging from equal it and perhaps no material in the colossal Buddha lent by a New which the Chinese imagination dis-York collector, which weighs 20 tons lgracetullest birds that ever were; the played itself in so many' ingenious ideal water-buffalo in' dark green toa tiny gold brooch, representing two and fascinating forms. Crystals, also, mating doves, no bigger than yous jade, another masterpiece of the Tang, fand cameos (where the artist' used thumbnail, "the articles are. well the natural colours of the crystal, Spaced and the whole effect both cutting away its different layers Exhibits by Royalty restful and dignified, But where shall one stop? The looorly represent Everything in Strong Retief and the ivory ling and Queen have lent about 30 rather meagre.
But one cannot have In this respect the Chinese Exhibi-Ipleces. Her Majesty is very fond of tion is a great improvement on pre-[Chinese snuff-bottles and has some Tt will be interesting to see how vious national "exhibitions, "which charming specimens, while he, appro-the Western public respond to the tended to be fussy and crowded, The priately, among other things lends pictures, for undoubtedly this is the Ughting, too, is wonderful: "not a Jsome splendid jade sceptre. The form of Chinese art which must lo Tight about the cases. reaches crown Prince of Sweden has con-seem strangest to unfamiliar eyes. I tributed lavishly. "He is coming to the eye and everything stands out in will not attempt to describe -any of preside at one or two of the lectures Soft yet strong relief. As for. the the pictures, as by far the largest Chinese canvas, blue or creamy gold Jarranged in connection with the Ex-Jand most, important contribution Is hibition. Sir Percival "David, Mr. im which the' walls are covered, that lent by the Chinese Government, Oscar Raphael, Mr. H. J. Oppenheim Burlington House really ought to keep Jand T think you saw them In Shang-have lent most generously; so have it there permanently to hide its own hai before they came over. Do you many American collectors. Indeed ed wall paper, remember the charming study from all parts of the world Chinese may add that the eatalogue—the feat crouching with peonies waving treasures "have been poured into production of which with its many lover her? Or the graceful Ming London, and truly Burlingion House unfamiliar names was a terrific labour Painting of a lady and child, in robes has displayed all its unequalled ex-well got up to help visitor Jot loveliest hue? Or the long scroll Jperience in setting them out as they Uist of the different' dynasties and jot "The Myriad Miles of the deserve. This Exhibition cannot but map showing all. the chief Yangtze?"
Unfamiliar though the Ihave great results in bringing to the centres of China from 1700 BE. to treatment may be, I do not think that West a new idea of China, a better AD. 1800. I am interested to. find visitors will be able to resist the understanding of her people, at a Shanghai among them, as I cannot Jpoetle suggestion of these and many time when they are passing through remember hearing of any particular more haunting pictures. great crises, when a new life is being branch of art associated with it, To write of Chinese art to readers Bronses from 1760 B.C, born among them as vigorous and fruitful, one may believe, as that in China fs rather ike taking coals 'The frst room is devoted entirely which "in past centuries" produced to Newcastle. Yet during the unto bronzes ranging from about 1760 these lovely' treasures. Dacking at Burlington Houfe even 1B. C. to the end of the Hans, say 200 IL is interesting to note the source some of the Chinese experts we ea: D. with a few large pieces of the bulk of the Exhibits since this astonished at the treasures revealed. primitive pottery the decoration of gives a fairly good idea of where in I think too that most foreigners in which has a certain suggestion of the world are the principal collections China got a general smattering of the indian influence. But by the 18th of the best Chinese art. The following Porcelain of Kang Hsi and Ch'ien Jeentury B.C. the Chinese had fully ig a list of the principal loans to the Tung and of Ming brass, but know developed their own arty and the Show together with the number of little of the earlier work: Such was designs they produced have never exhibits. my own experience, and not the Joeen improved upon. Wine-vessels Exhibits Jeast of this exhibition's attraction shaped like a recumbent horse or a HM. The King. has been the revelation to me of the goose with neck out-stretched, o HM: the Queen 2::": art of the Sung and Tang dynasties. great flat flask inlaid in delicate BERG, 'The Crown' Prince of tracery with gold and sliver; three-'Sweden... seine Sil Wonderfully Dignined and Vitat legged urns; tall vases; bells and Me." Alan Batiow (Wendover Beers: a superb set of sacrificial Mrs. Chester Beattie' (London) England) 2 Of the former there are some of vessels set ona bronze table which the "most desirable porcelain. vases, British Museum (Includes the Jonce belonged to the great, ill-fated Eumorfopoulos collection Jars and bowls, creamy white, or the Viceroy Tuan Fang who died in the Palest blue and green, I ever saw.
Revolution of 1911, in Szechvan—Mest G. Bruce' (i'sndon 'The glaze, too, in some pieces crackled these are far more than the work Sir' J. Buchanan Jardine 4s exquisite. "The shapes are simple, of mere craftsmen and show how almost austere, especially compared much wider the Chinese conception with the exuberant fancies shown in one Nal-clit (Shanghai) Jot what art can be is than' the Ghinese Government. (approx) Ching porcelain, but wonderfully Western. Some of the most beauti-Mr, and Mrs. A. Clark (iver dignified and vital. "It is a curious ful pieces come from the period of Heath England) (approx) coincidence that the Sungs were the "Soring and Autumn "Annals"
Sir Perceval David Bt. (Lot feigning in China approximately at JLao Tsu and Contuelus lived in it, the same time as the Normans in Sees land we know that that period also England and at least in spirit one produced all the fantastic forms of feels a strong resemblance between thought which at this present time the Norman architecture, perhaps late hailed as the very latest thing. most vigorous ever produced, and the [Unfortunately our ai donot Sung porcelain, balance the eccentricities of our think 'And next in' interest I would put ers with such incomparable things of the Tang dynasty statuary. For ex-beauty as they did in the Chou ample a pair of fighting Horses, with Mr. Helistrom (Sweden), Mrs. C. R. Holmes (New York) ying manes and furious jaws,' made Government of India... vf pottery once coloured: one can From Moscow Museum Istanbul Museum (Turkey) almost hear their squeals. "Or the A few more recollections may Kansay City' Museum ws... polo-player bending down to reach loriotly be mentioned—a case full of Mr. Kompo (Stockholm) the ball as his horse gallops along Mr C.. Loo (Parle) gold ornaments, buckles, brooches, him, "Near him appropriately enough Upivre museum (Pari) Jnair ornaments, earrings' from the MajGen. Sie the ideal mafoo, and on a. shelf Hermitage Museum in Moscow; a full
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