EXHIBITION
THE Society of Scribes and Illuminators is showing an exhibition devoted to the art of calligraphy, lettering and illuminating at the Crafts Centre of Great Britain, 16-17, Hay Hill, Berkeley Square, W.1, until November 9th. A retrospective section contains some exquisite work by Graily Hewitt and by the late Edward Johnston, who was the first 'honorary member of the Society and of whorl.' a lithograph by Sir William Rothenstein is on view. Even more delightful are the books written by Alfred Fairbank and illuminated by Louise Powell, notably the Eclogues and Georgics of Virgil. Examples of Rolls of Honour, formal notices, elaborate record- books, and so on, show how greatly the public taste has benefited by the activities of the Society. In an upper room are examples of recent handwriting done in British schools, and of Italic hand- writing ; these prompt the reflection that, while much of grace and beauty has been brought into everyday life by the revival of calligraphy, technically perfect formal handwriting can seem pedantic and lacking in character unless the writer's personality is strong enough to give it an individual creative flow. D. H.
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