Mr C. F. N. Wroughton's "Rajah."

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIV, Issue 3034, 25 July 1893, Page 2

Mr C. F. N. Wroughton's "Rajah."

MRS HOMERSHAM'S PICTURE.

We are indebted to Mr Thomas A. Gates, picture dealer, Saunders' Buildings, for a view of a clever and life-like portrait m oil color of tbe well known hunter, Rajah, from the eaael of a local artist, Mrs Amy Homersham. The work has been executed Co the order of the Ash burton Hunt Club, for presentation froMrO. F.N. Wroughton, m recognition of his ceaseless and untiring effort* (extending over several years) to. keop the pack ; together, and maintain the sport m the county. As a mere portrait the work is especially meritorious, from the fact that Rajah has no prominent feature," peculiarity of color, conformation, or mark that would render a less perfect picture of him unlike many another "powerful, well made animal of the same class. And this what we may call normal type is m all animal life, including the human face, extremely difficult to copy, as the minute variations which together stamp the individuality of a particular subject, and constitute all the difference between one and another, are most difficult to deal with, and it is only the true artist who is able to appreciate and handle them m such a manner as to produce a faithful likeness.

Although Mrs Homeritham is well kno^n as the painter of many clever landscapes and sea pieces, we believe this is her first attempt at pourtraying animal life, and it is no reflection on her talent to say that the lady must have succeeded far beyond her awn expectations, and the result to herself and f rienda, including the owner of the horse, cannot fail to be highly gratifying. The same normal condition that had to be contended with m feature also presents icself m regard to the naturally rather dull bay color of the horse's coat, rendered still more sombre and less responsive to the effect of light and shade by periodical dipping, but this also has been over- ; come m the same masterly manner. The coat is true to color, and very natural and healthy m appearance—in fact any person not blind to form and color, having once seen Rajah, will instantly recognise a faithful likeness m the portrait. The perspective and background are weU managed, and throw into strong relief the animal m the foreground, and a minor though not less pleasing feature m the foreground is a really good representation of a gorse bush, the dark green of which is enlivened, and the whole character of the picture brightened, by the judicious disposition ot a few of the golden blooms, which, together with the dear blue sky and the whiteness of the snow on the cliptant ranges, suggest a lovely spring day (as such days are m New Zealand) and impart a sense of life and brightness seldom associated with similar subject!. The picture has been well set by Mr Gates m a handsome gilt frame and will form a pleasing souvenir for Mr Wroughton of the o'd days when he was connected with the Ashburton Hounds, and Rajah carried him season after season without making a single mistake, besides winning, under the pilotage of Mr E. Saunders, a maiden hteeplechase at the Hunt Club races, and taking first honors for the high jump at the show grounds.