The Arts of Peace

ca. 1886

Frederic, Lord Leighton

For the wall painting Spirit Fresco, South Kensington (now Victoria & Albert) Museum

Illustration from The Builder, 51 (September 4, 1886), opposite p. 338 (foldout).

"The general idea of the painting evidently is that the industrial arts in times of peace are mainly dedicated to the use and adornment of the fairer half of mankind, who thus form the centre of the picture and are ministered to by the labours of the men. In the opposite fresco, where the industrial arts are applied to war, the women work for the men; in the times of peace the men work for the women. This view does not, indeed, cover the whole meaning of the design; industrial art applied to the theatre, for instance, is suggested by the masks seen hanging over the door on the right. Other manufactures suggested are robes, carpets, textile fabrics generally, jewellery, pottery, bronzes, &c.

"We should add that the title, 'The Arts of Peace,' is not that intended by the painter, whose title for his picture is 'Industrial Art applied to Peace,” in contradistinction to the other fresco, “Industrial Art applied to War.' This is more intelligible than 'The Arts of Peace,' which is a very unmeaning title; though we may observe that 'art applied to peace' is not quite a parallel expression with 'applied to war,' since 'war' implies an action or series of actions in a sense in which “peace” does not: swords and spears are useful in the prosecution of war, but we cannot say textiles and bronzes are useful in the prosecution of peace. We should, however, have given Sir F. Leighton’s own title had we received his disclaimer of the other in time; but we received an invitation card to the private view with the title, 'The Arts of Peace,' in very large capitals; and if the South Kensington authorities cannot give the right name to their own picture it is no fault of ours."

"Illustrations. The New Fresco at the South Kensington Museum." The Builder 51 (September 4, 1886): 338.

Public domain

Omeka record contributed by LM

February 8, 2017