Auckland Society of Arts' Exhibition.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 98, 24 April 1886, Page 5

Auckland Society of Arts' Exhibition.

The sijcth annual anniversary of the Auckland Society of Arts was opened at the Choral Hall on 14th inst. with considerable eclat. The opening ceremonial took the form of a conversazione, to which only members and friends were admitted, and despite this limitation, the hall and the ante-room were almost uncomfortably crowded.

His Excellency the Governor, who has always taken a keen interest in matters appertaining to art, arrived at eight o'clock, accompanied by Major Jervois and Captain Medley. The vice-regal party were received by Mr J. McCosh Clark, Mr Holland, Mr Mackechnie, Mr E. Bell, and other prominent members of the Society, and were at once escorted to the platform, the National Anthem mean while being performed by the members of the Orchestral Society. His Excellency, who was attired in evening dress, and on whose breast glittered the Orders of St. Michael and St. George, advanced to the front of tbe platform, and amidst loud cheers declared the exhibition open. He then proceeded to distribute the medals and special prizes won in competitions originated by the Society : —For beat work in Class 2. —Silver Medal, Miss M. 0. Stoddart, Christchurch. A special award of Silver Medal to Miss M. O. Stoddart, for excellent work in foliage. For second best work in Class 2.— Bronze Medal, Miss A. R. Gardner. For first prize in Section 2, Class I.—Bronze Medal, L. J. Watkin. For first prize in Section 3, Class I.—Bronze Medal, Miss Carrie Wright; Architecture : For construction. —Prize, A. H. White. Architecture: For an original design, best adaptation of native foliage to decorative purposes.—Prize, A. H. 'White. Life Study.-Mrs Clark's Medal, Miss Sperry; second, Miss Fenton. Musical competition for Herr Schmitt's and Mrs McCosh Clark's medals : For a song— No. 3, " Argus," firßt, A. A. Whitehorne; No. 1, "Orpheus," second, H. F. Edger For a pianoforte piece —No. 10, " Quod Postui Perfocti," first, Miss Bella M. Hitchings ; No. 4, excellent competition, but disqualified for competition, being a violin piece with pianoforte accompaniment For a part song — No. 8, "Argus," first, A. A. Whitehorne; No. 7, "Orpheus," second, H, F. Edger. In presenting the musical prizes, His Excellency paid a high compliment to Herr Carl Schmitt for his exertions in bringing up the standard of music in this city. He also mentioned that Mr Whitehorne, who had won the first prize in the musical competition, having won the same prize previously, had waived his right in favour of Mr Edger. His Excellency then tleft the stage, and the audience proceeded to the inspection of the pictures. During the course of the evening Beveral of the competition songs and pieces were played and sung. So far as the Oils in the exhibition are concerned, it may at once be said that the number of pictures shown is precisely the same as last year, while if in average qnality there is no retrogression, there is alao no marked improvement. In some measure the former circumstance is to be attributed to the Committee, who, very properly, have exercised a larger discretion by rejecting works of very inferior merit, As usual, landscapes predominate largely, while of figure paintings there are barely half-a-dozen. Tbe visitor will miss with regret any works by such artists as Kennet Watkins, Gully, and one or two others, while he will be disappointed also to find no marked advance in the production of those 'who remain. Each one scorns to confine his attention to the same class of subjects, and the style of treatment evinces, on the whole, but slight variation. On the other hand, we are glad to welcome two fresh contributors of .considerable promise, viz., Mr Robert Atkinson (a young artist not long out from Home) and Mr George Sherriff (of Wanganui). The former gen tieman enjoys the distinction of exhibiting the best of the oil piotures, viz.. No. 36, " A Spanish Soldier of the XVI. Century." It is a half-length portrait, and the figure stands out in bold relief from a sombre background.