FINE ART EXHIBITION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 222, 17 September 1895, Page 2

FINE ART EXHIBITION.

The scenery of Maoriland has attracted many artists from other shores, and they have rarely lefb ua wibhoub carrying with bhem enriched portfolios as the result of their sojourn among our lakes; our mountains, and our forests. Ib ia nob ofben, however, thab artists of eminence take the trouble to show ua their work before they leave. They carry their treasures elsewhere. For this reason it is gratifying to find two painters like Messrs Wadham and Sinclair departing from the usual rule and submitting their work in New Zealand for tho appreciation of New Zealandera before they seek ib in obher quarters. These gentlemen, who are jusb bringing a lengbhaned tour in the colony to a close, have now on view at bho Socieby of Arbs' Rooms, Municipal Buildings, some 50 of bheir watercolours, comprisingjNew Zealand scenes chiefly, bub also including pictures of English and Ausbralian scenery. There was a large abbendance of ladies and gentlemen yesterday afternoon whan tba Mayor (Mr J. J. Holland) opened the exhibition. In inbroducing Messrs Wadham and Sinclair he said thab they came of a generation of painters. in the old counbry from whom bhey had evidently inherited undeniable powers. Mr Wadham had exhibited in the Walker Arb Gallery in Liverpool ab the early age of fourbeen years, and ab present held the honorary office of President of tbe. Adelaide Easel Club (bho socieby of artists in South Australia), a position to which he was elected in consideration of his artistic ability. All presenb would agree wibh bim thab they had never seen in Auckland such a beautiful collection of water colours, and he had greab pleasure in opening such an exhibition. The work of these artists is of a high order. Mr Wadham has the freer and bolder, and also bbc lighter, touch of the two, and the pictures of both Mr Sinclair and he are characterised by a solidiby which is so ofben found wanting in water colours. Bub together with this same solidity of colour and moulding bhere is a breadth and delicacy thab delivers bhe work from any imputation of heaviness. One of the most striking pictures in the whole collection, and the best in our opinion, is that called "Solitude," a grey seascape thab ab once suggests its own title. The long, long stretch of melancholy main, broken only where the waves bumble lazily on bhe beach ; tho ashen sky overbead ; the sense of limitless spaces in the distance ; and the lonely shore, are all in fine taste, and full of feeling. The work in the rocks and the mirror pool is excellent in detail, and there is a most agreeable freedom in the treatment of tbe background which assorts well with the nature of the scene. Among New Zealand scenes is a large one of tha fisber hubs ab Island Bay, Wellington, and anobherof Lake Wakatipu. The firsb ia a picturesque representation of a picturesque corner. Those bumble down ragged rocks, those carelesaly - dressed fisher folk, are in delicious harmony with the rugged rocks and foaming waves. The canvas smacks of the briny. Lake Wakatipu is an altogether different scene. Those hard rough hills have been softened by a summer haze which bathes their scantilymantled shoulders and the clear, smooth 1 lake. The puny puffing steamer moving away into dim perspective, comes out in excellent contrast to the great silent hills around, and the snow-crowned towering mountain rising into the blue sky. Mr U adham has dona ample justice to the boauties of New Zealand creek ecenery in the charming libble paintings of Wadestown Creek, Wellington, and the Leith Creek, Dunedin, while *' The Old Hulk," by Mr Sinclair, commends itself. by its clear delicacy of colour and careful detail. Space does nob permit us to refer to many of the other pictures, Buch as those of North Wales by Mr Sinclair and the Rotorua scenes- by the same artist. " Penman Pool " is one of his strong pieces, the colouring and detail being- excellent, and- at the Head of Lake Wakatipu " another. Tha exhibition is free bo the public, and will be open every day daring tho week from ten a.m. to five p.m. The artistic public, and onr artists especially, should nob neglecb bo pay ib a visib.