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96   THE MONTH

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By courtesy of The Century Co.
George Cox, Photographer

Mr. George Grey Barnard

neither extremities, where the cloven hoofs are only stuck on to human legs. In two fragments of a large composition for a monumental Norwegian stove, the sculptor has plainly taken a hint from Robin, as to the availability of rough-hewn masses of stone in contrast with the smooth roundness of the human body. But here, again, he has original ideas and is in a high degree successful in bringing out his meaning. The two fragments shown display the contest of primitive man in his struggles with the watery element, symbolized by the serpent, as is related in the northern mythology. The rough portions out of which serpent and man partly emerge may stand for the background of brute nature from which the heroes of the sagas had to disengage themselves.

In a touching group called "Brotherly Affection" and intended for a tomb, the two figures are shown groping their way towards one another through the darkness of the valley of death, as is hinted by the mass of unwrought stone in which they are lodged.

January 1987    97

This may seem, in type, somewhat difficult to apprehend; and we are not surprised that many who believe that nothing can be clearly expressed in sculpture that is not altogether conventional should say that Mr. Barnard's works lack cleverness; but such critics find the same fault with everything that is new.