Pictorial Shakespeare, 1880-1890 - eTheses Repository - University ...

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Tadema's and Albert Moo: 3«s painting.
The essay documents the archaeological consciousness in
some detail, but the reader is constantly reminded that historical
data have a subordinate position in works of imaginations
Truth is independent of facts always, inventing
or selecting them at pleasure.
(Intentions, p«242)
'I'iiis liberty is extended to the modern theatre: after an
admonition that "in mounting a play in the accurate costume of
the time...we are carrying out Shakespeare's own wishes and
method", ,,'ilde offers a more radical jtistificrition of "pictorial"
production* According to this,
there is ,JID more reason that r/e should continue
any imperfections which may be supposed to have
characterised Shakespeare's stage-mourting than
that we ahould have Juliet played by a young m n,
or f;ive up the advantage of changeable scenery,
A great v;orl: of dramatic art should not merely
be made expressive of modern passion by -.neons
of the c.ctor, but should be presented to vis in
t-.e form n:ot"t suitable to the . \oclern spirit.
(Intentions, p-?.245-6)
The critic moves back and forth 1'ron discussion of Shakespeare's
theatre to the modern ct^e, by dai/Aing that the tv;o share
illusionist aims. To the lint of tccnniciniii" required by
ohalzcspoare - property - and vi^-i-Asterc, i;: ICG UP ;.-.rtisto,
fencing coach, dance instructor - "vVilcle Mdd£> "an artist to
percor.al-y direct tiie whole production" (Intentions, r>.225)
In his uioein.2; pages he returns to tliia t5U£;. 'cstion: t:ie uta/rin.^"
of ;olayo calls for ^. strong sense of harmony and compo.'ition,
for "as lo-ig as the backfiTOiind is painted b;, one artist, and
tiie i'orcnroLizd fi.rure£: iut-'cpendently by another, tiicro is a danger
of ..ant of harmony in tiie scene as a picture". B'acli ctr^;e-
1 ictore ^lioulO have itc colour Lchcrie "settled as absolutely
•'c for the decoration of a room", and .vil-.-e proceeds to a
difjcussion of the relative usefulness of ccr Min CO!O-AT,
advoci.tin tiie ju,. icious use of f?.cLinr, "by vhich nodern colours
aro often - .ucii improved*'. u.'hc need .for su^erv-icion b.- one artist
iS Rgriil G:.pX-.~Gi2GU:
3ii ,rclv» Diarchy and. ite^ublicrnici- ry contend
lor M-'.e :;ovcr:vi':-.fc of aj Li,^::^ lout a tJioFtre
should be in the po\ver of a culture- despot.