Byam Shaw: His Own Studio & "Truth"

"The Blindfolding of Truth" by Byam Shaw
Done as a tapestry for William Morris & Co.

"The time had come for Byam Shaw to have a studio of his own, for carrying out his large pictures. He found a fairly large one, but awkwardly lit by many skylights, and had in addition tall windows in the walls on either side. These were usually kept shuttered, except one which he made use of when painting models under effect of sunlight. The woodwork was painted a dark rich blue and green, and the walls brown-papered, but mainly hidden by sketches done by his friends, and his own pictures, two large mirrors, many shelves filled with books dealing with costume and antiquities, lives of painters, myths and legends - in short, a good reference library. 

There was also a quote from Stephen Gullet posted which read, 'I shall pass through this world but once. If, therefore, there by any kindness I can show, any good thing I can do, let me do it now: let me not defer it nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.'

It was here that he began his picture 'Truth'. It was a large picture, replete with beauty, both as a whole and in the treatment of each part. The allegory is original and tells its tale with each person's reaction to Truth and their individual efforts to either conceal or to reveal her.

I was often in Shaw's studio at that time, and saw him paint the picture bit by bit on the white canvas. He made many separate studies for the work, mainly in white chalk on brown paper. In addition there were two sketches of the colour scheme done in pastel, without any attempt at the drawing. These I became the owner of by winning a game of ball, which we played, while the picture served as a net.

Though Shaw had a most retentive memory, stored with knowledge of effects seen and recorded, he always painted from nature, if that were possible. I recall the day when a number of his friends were collected for the crowd in the background of Truth. Having arranged us in a group he drew on the canvas those bits of us not hidden by our neighbour, and then began to paint a head or a hand and finish it on the spot. In the middle of this a huge frame arrived, which had to be hoisted in through the window. The frame-maker had mistaken the day, and this was explained to him in forcible language by Byam. I think the man's surprise at seeing me in tights talking to a clergyman and some ladies in strange dresses would have been sufficient as a fillip for one afternoon."

To be continued

(Excerpts from "The Art & Life of Byam Shaw" by Rex Vicat Cole.)