Page 42 - Studio International - February 1971

UK commentary:

coins, stamps, books, comics et al.

Timothy Hilton

This month brings both decimalization and the don't like the look of these new ones, which still exhibitions of Irish art in Cork and Galway.
consolidation of plans to introduce entrance carry on the tradition inaugurated by Croesus That in Cork is to be devoted to the nineteenth
charges to museums and galleries, and we are (in sixth-century Lydia) of pride in luxury and century. There may not be much of this, since
being invited by the government to think more imperial strength. The iconography of coinage Ireland's traditional role as a stud-farm for
closely about money. has almost always been reactionary, with all cheap British labour has also had its effect on the
Okay, pinstripes. But let's open it up. The those haughty profiles, heavy gates, armed visual arts. Painters like Mulready and Maclise,
only artistic points of view that have had much horsemen—the official regalia of those who have while claimed by the Irish, spent most of their
airing so far come from the bien peasant art- never wanted for money, shelter, comfort and working lives in London. In modern times there
appreciation establishment. There are other bread. It's bad art. The men from the Mint has been no real Irish tradition in art, however
views, like my own. Perhaps the Prime Minister have been cunningly introducing bad art into much such intelligent and sensitive painters as
and his Paymaster-General (that's what Lord our pockets (good art, like a good heart, is not Micheal Farrell (whose work when I last saw it
Eccles is) may think it an eccentric one, but kept in the pocket), a little at a time, to make us was an attempt to combine the American colour-
eccentric to what norm ? For views in art are covet more bad art, for so long now that I field with Celtic motifs) have tried to promote
free, while it is their intention to finally enslave seriously believe we cannot see it straight such a thing.
art to monetary justification. Thinking of without recourse to imaginative steps that may In literature, of course, matters have been
relationships between money, art, education, seem callow or naive to those who organize the different, but I feel that English respect for Irish
and all that, here's a saddening little parable. ways of the world. writing is not enough, and derives from that
I would like to record that the last lecture I was drawing-room view of culture, that Hindsight
fated to give in the On the room the women It is therefore pleasant to look over the seas to Saga view of civilization fed to us by Kenneth
come and go') Courtauld Institute of Art, fell England's nearest underdeveloped country, Clark and his elegant henchmen. For the great
upon the morning of Derby Day, two years ago. Ireland, to handle its beautiful coinage, and to Irish contribution to English culture has been
The present writer had a certain amount of recognize that respect for money over there neither in its literature nor in its art, but in
information. I rose therefore to my nonmatrixed differs significantly from our own forelock- immigration, in the fact that a large part of the
lectern. The Derby always comes just before touching obeisances. In 1923 the Irish Free working class in England, being Irish, Catholic,
examination time. Faced with a visibly miserable State, sweeping away all imperial symbols, and from an agricultural background, does not
assemblage of students, I advised that all introduced a harp on one side of their coins (it's subscribe to the ethics and mores of a work-
monies should be placed on Shoemaker (33—i) also on the Guinness bottles), with a sow and discipline developed by English industrial
and Blakeney (7—I). History is history, and piglets, a salmon, a horse, a hen, a bull and a dog capitalism. So Irish money brings you luck, does
recent history is our own experience. Nobody on the obverse. While English money may be it ? Huh. If Irish people had more of it they
needs Leslie Welch to recall which horses were used in Ireland, Irish money is not legal tender might have been lucky enough to be able to stay
placed first and second. over here, for no good reason, and is often at home.
Should this be a happy story ? It isn't. Not regarded by English people as being funny in English-born myself, I feel this strongly for
one of my students thought to back those some way, and by the superstitious as bringing personal reasons, since my heart was captured
winners ... I don't mind about that, since I do luck. It forms part of Peter Blake's whimsy, in 1962 by an immigrant, making out here and
not care to arouse emotions that are dependent Philip Larkin donates it to a church in which he posting back money to the family. That was
on the prospect of financial gain. But what the disbelieves. I was once delighted to see Eamon National Productivity Year, we may recall.
hell, all those Courtauld students wind up down Scully, the famous Irishman known over here as Those who do not may like to consult a small
the road in Bond Street later on, servants to a Alan Sea Breeze, selling Irish half-crowns to booklet, amazingly entitled The Revolutionary
system of sophisticated bartering in which the Americans for a pound. Because of the horse Stamp Price Guide which reproduces (not in the
real winner is always money, not art. Betting design, he claimed that it was a special minting to actual size, of course, for that would be illegal)
always carries with it feelings of greed and commemorate the triumphs of Arkle. This was the stirring design of the special stamp, vigorous
desperation, a low and harsh range of tones on at Rosc, the international quadrennial exhibition upward arrows superimposed on a map of the
the emotional palette, and Bond Street which comes round for the second time this British Isles, our Queen looking on with pursed
speculation in art (not different in its essentials) summer. The 1967 show, timid and ten years lips, her face turned in half-profile towards you
is only different in that nobody there is so broke out of date by international art-world standards, as if to enquire what your contribution has been
as to be desperate. Money there is all that is had a remarkable effect on a country that had to the Gross National Product.
beautiful and lovely. They cheer and clap it. never before seen a large show of contemporary What miserable and petty things postage
Consider the extraordinary scenes in the sale painting. 8o,000 people went to see it, arguments stamps are! But stay, stop and consider. My
rooms when people do actually clap at the end were endless, and popular demand kept it open little guide informs me that this threepenny
of a particularly high round of bidding. What for an extra week. The whole of the twenty-six stamp is now worth a whole ninepence, if it was
are they clapping ? Certainly not the picture, counties seemed to resound to the name of actually used, and no less than one and
nor its artist, nor so much the activity of the Alechinsky. threepence if in mint condition, if it wasn't
vendor or purchaser. Is this not a mindless Apart from the modern show (guided by the used. Wonderful, wonderful. The mouth
acclamation of purchasing power per se? second-generation expatriate James Johnson slavers. My late sovereign George V clearly
You never see a starving beggar on a coin. I Sweeney) the celebrations this year will include knew well what he was about when the Royal
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