Modernismus

As the full title suggests "*Modernismus: an attack on some of the more extreme tendencies of modern art*" is an all out defence of tradition and a fierce attack of modernism, in art (including painting sculpture and architecture).

The author, Sir Reginald Blomfield, ex-president ot the Royal Institute of British Architects, disparaged the modern movement. However a review of the book by *The Spectator* of April 1934 considered his writing to be the "sort of thing... more suited to the pages of a school magazine", and his arguments illogical, not critical, and using "unsupportable assertions". The review further stated that "it is impossible to discover from this book what modernism is : the only conclusion one can draw is that it is anything approximately contemporary of which Sir Reginald Blomfield disapproves."

Blomfield however, used *Modernismus* as a derogatory term, defining it rather loosely as: "ismus is a Ger- man suffix : German is not English ; therefore, it is im- measurably inferior." Interestingly, Blomfield approved of St Saviour's church (Eltham, UK, 1933) designed by modernist church designer N.F. Cachemaille-Day (1896-1976). Having notable projecting brick fins it was said to have been inspired by the 12 century St. Cecile Cathedral of Albi in France and thus appealed to Sir Reginald.

While *The Spectator* concludes that "there is little "meat" in this book for any serious student of modernism", the book remains a marker of how modernism was received by an eminent representative of the architectural establishment - who had already lost credibility as the guardian of traditional architecture, causing an outcry when in Dec 1932 he proposed the demolition and redevelopment of John Nash's Roman classical-styled Carlton House Terrace (1827-63).