THE ROYAL ACADEMY
Stg,—It is most refreshing to find your art critic using the same ex- travagant terms of opprobrium with regard to the general level of paint- ings at the R.A. this year—contemptuous strictures, such as "meaning- less vulgarity," " decadence," " incompetence," "juvenile sentimentality," " daubs," " discreet pornography " and " slum," to choose the richest— which one has generally considered the monopoly of the " diehards " when expressing their abhorrence of modern art. Judge then of my exceed- ing joy when Mr. Ayrton picks out (dare I say with a pin?) the works of two R.A.s for special praise, when the paintings of one and the sculpture of the other would seem to epitomise the very defects he s° roundly abuses in reviewing the bulk of the exhibition. Is it possible that your critic suffers from the same imp of perversity which once compelled Sicken to admit his secret admiration for a bad picture? Despite such critical ambiguity, Mr. Ayrton is a constant joy to this painter, who by the way reads that the sales at this " mart " have so far beaten last year's record. " There's glory for you," as Humpty DumP1Y
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