“Music” by Elinor Hallé

[Victorian Web Home —> Visual Arts —> Sculpture]

Music

Elinor Hallé

Exhibited at the Grosvenor Gallery in 1884

Plaster [?]

Source: The Magazine of Art, which points out that “with exception of Mr. Legros' La Source (Miss Hallé is a pupil of Mr. Legros, it is the only example of sculpture in low relief in the exhibition; and while regretting the prevalent neglect of this most expressive form of art, it is satisfactory to note an original design of such excellence and promise. There is much natural flow and beauty of line in Miss Hallé's composition, despite the somewhat conventional treatment of the sitting figure, and a little awkwardness in the retreating line of the uplifted leg of the viol-player; there are nobility and expressive feeling, as well as the true statuesque quality of repose, in the third figure, who with closed eyes listens ecstatically to the music.” [continued below]

[You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the University of Toronto and the Internet Archive and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one. — George P. Landow]

“Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter,” might be Miss Hallé's theme, the full significance and spiritual import of which is symbolised in the listener, whose rapture and absorption is finely rendered. The unity of the design is excellent, the three figures are effectively contrasted and well harmonised, the modelling is sound; the whole thing has the true senliment of bas-relief. Above all it must be observed that the subject receives genuine illustration, not through symbolism only, but through the varied characterisation of the figures and the more subtle medium of expression. Miss Hallé, as has been noted, is a pupil of Mr. Legros. Her present achievement bears ample witness to the excellence of the Slade Professor's system of teaching. Its inspiration is not popular and sentimental, but absolutely artistic; and its influence, as may be seen, is of the best. [400-01]

Bibliography

“Current Art.—III.” Magazine of Art. 7 (1883-84): 397-401. Internet Archive version of a copy in the University of Toronto Library. Web. 1 January 2015.

Victorian
Web

Visual
Arts

Sculpture

Created 1 January 2015