ART AT THE EXHIBITION

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12605, 22 September 1906, Page 3

ART AT THE EXHIBITION

THE BRITISH EXHIBITS. A CHAT WITH MR LOXGDEN. Mr Longden, who is in charge of the whole of the British Art exhibits at the New Zealand International Exhibition, and will superintend the hanging of the pictures' and the "disposition of the various exhibits, arrived in Christchurch yesterday, and a member of the staff of "The Press"-' had a most interesting infferview with him. ! THE WORK OF COLLECTION. "The exceedingly representative collection of pictures," said "Mr Longden, •'which -will be seen at your Exhibition, lias been made entirely by Sir Isador Spielman, Director of Art for Great Britain, assisted in the choice of noninvited work by Sir Edward Poynter and Mr E. J. Gregory, A.R.A. * Sir I Isador has been oonnected in an honorary capacity as representing British art with every Exhibition of note held of late years. When communicating with artists in Great Britain with regard to the works to be sent out here, Sir Ifindo-r tSpielrnan mado it a! stringent condition that he did not wa.nt them to eend anything old which would not sell in England. What was wanted, he impressed on them, was the very beet representative modern work, and the prices of pictures to be sold were to be at the most moderate figure. It is niont satisfactory to be able- to say that h<! found all the best artists most anxious to be represented at tho Exhibition. There tvas not a refusal in ajiy single case where application was made for pictures, except where artists had really no works left to send. In some eases the wj>rks of artists are in such great demand, that their studios were absolutely bare. But did not daunt Sir leador. Whore this was the case,! and he wanted the particular artist represented, ho found out where pictures iby them were in private hands, ,and borrowed them, so that there should be a complete representation of the very best art of the day. He found, I may say, that people were far more willing to lend pictures to go to tho colonies tham they were to go to St Louis. In order to obtain a perfectly complete system of hanging the pictures, they wore hung by Mr E. G. Gregory, A.It.A., in the packer's room in London, as they will appear when tho art gallery opens. This was arranged by learning the exact dimensions of the walls in oadi room of the gallery, so that what may be termed a replica of the art gallery here was arranged in London. The hanging in itself should prove a very valuable object lesson to you here in the blending of the colours and arrangement of subjects.

THE PICTURES. "The total mimfber of British art exhibite, including those of tJio Arts and Crafte, number about 2000. There are 300 oils; 350 water colours, and 250 black and white. Then there are 350 architectural and 800 exhibits representing the Arts and Crafts, and some 80 or U0 fine examples of British miniature paintings. l : n addition to being the mofet representative collection it ie also extremely general, containing exhibits from all the chief societies in Groat Britain and Ireland, the .Scottish Societies being particularly to tlio fore. The bodies represented aro the Royal Scottish Academy, Royal Hibernian Society, Royal Cambrian Society, Royal Society of Painters in. Water Colours, Royal Institute of Painters and Water Colours, Royal Society of British A»l> iste, and the now English Art Club. In the oile, in addition to representative pictures by ah the living presidents of the various societies, works of the Into presidents will be seen.l These include pictures by Sir Edward Poyntor, Lord Leighton, and Sir J. E. Mjllais. -Tho pictures of Edward Bruno Jones are also represented. There will be a very representative collection of black and white. The water colon its are a splendid collection, and I think the artiste Ijoto will admit that the British water colour work is the best in the world. They admitted it in America and in France also. At St. Louis we stood at the top of the tree as regards water colours. ARTS AND CRAFT WORK. "The collection of arte and craft work, which was made by myself, is fully representative of all kinds of art applied to industrial work, and will be illustrative joi tho provincial art and crafts work of Great Britain. I visited all the principal largo, towns, notably Birmingham, and was particularly successful in obtaining what I wanted. Mr Edward Cr.ano gave his advice in the selection of this TCork. A most interesting in tho department will bo a collection of British smocks showing tho various designs of smocking in tho different counties. Each county possesses its own. distinctive pattern of smocking. Lace will be exhibited from Buckinghamshire, Honiton, a<nd Limerick, and weaving is represented from Haslemere, Windermere, etc. Pottery has during the last two yoirs made strong advances, and tho potters' designers aire making marked progress in art works. Wo have illustrative exhibits from the Ruskin Pottery, the Doulton Works, and others. Mr L. V. Solon, the designer and painter at the Minton Porcelain Works, is represented by some beautiful' examples. Glass, engraved and cut. is 3ko exhibited in some beautiful * designs. There will bo heavy metal work, wrought iron work, and heavy

silver work. "Jewellery and enamelling in gold, silver, and copper are- both well represented. Another interesting section of this class will be the bookbinding, tooled leather work, and printing and caligmphy. The last is admirably illustrated by some beautiful ■work in vellum, notably the exhibits of Miss Florence Kingston. Then we have wood carving, repousse work, and needlework (comprising coverlets, portieres, etc.). Gesso work ie represented both by coloured and non-colour-ed exhibits. The stencilling exhibits are most original in design, including landscapes in stencilling, which we really pictures. It is now generally conceded that applied art is entitled to take rank a.s high art. and should be connected with it. The only previous collection of exhibits in applied art sent out of England xris that ehown at St. Louis . Such art Ts gradually forcing: its way towards Burlington House, and soon the day will come when ft will be there. "A most effective frieze for the gallery was designed and executed by Mr Walter Crane. "We sha.ll hare gome very fine exhibits of ecmlnture representative of the beet men." COLONIAL AHT EXHIBITS. The. colonial art societies have responded very loyally to tlio request made to them by the Art Committee for representative exhibits, and the result will bo a very excollvnt display. The Dunedin pictures have aJready boon described, and appended are references to hand from Victoria, Nelson, and Auckland. The Victorian Artists' Society have forwarded twenty-four pictures. The artists sending pictures are ac follows:—Mr Mautz Adams, "My Lady': Mr Theo. Andeir&m, f "Autumn Offerings - ; Mr E. N. Boyd. "Bargee Becalmed, on tfie Derwent"; Miss Asqnith Baker. '"The Quiet of the Cottage"; Miss E M. Chora ley, "Melbourne Grammar School"; Miss F. A. Fuller, '•Flowers of Western Australia"'; Miss Portia Geaeh, "The Procession, of the Honosr'; Mr D. Tlnoo. Br-oke Hansen, "Young Girl's Hemd"; Mies E. K. Martin, "Autumn—Hdideilberg"; Mr J. Matihor, "Evening — GippeTand Lakes ,, and "Miltford Scnrad, N.Z."; Mr W. G. May. "Patron"' (winner Melbourne Cup); Mr A. Molntosh, "Portrait of a Boy" ; Miss Myrtle LauTenco, "A Cloudy Day"; Miss Jane Sutherland. "Chasing a Butterfly" "Buelh Violote" ; Miss J. C. Traill, "The Laundry," "To Old Bush Inn," "Melbourne Lane," "The Night Muster' , ; Miss Rose A. Walker, "A Portrait"; Mr Hal. Waugh, "Our Selection"; Mrs Ada Whiting, miniature on ivory; Miss Dora L. Wilson, "Princes Bridge." The Nelson Suter Art Society has forwarded the following exhibits: —Mrs J. A. Toplise, "Hop-picking—Nelson," "Autumn," ''Gold and Blue," "Sunset." ; Miss C. A. Sadd, "Red and White GfrryGa'nt'hemmns"; Mies Nina Jones, "Karaka Berrifis," "Yellow Kowfoai," Now Zealand "Toi Toi" ; Mrs M. Cooke, "Under the R.ed Lamp." "The Sheik"; Mr J. H. Nicholson. "Pohare. ,, "Anatoki Gorge from Clifton," "Nelson 1 * , ; "Diamond Late," "Floweri? from Antarctic Tslanda of N.Z.": Mts O. Satohell, Autumn, Matai River," "Sunny Autumn"; M>ise C. A. Sadd, "Pabauau Beach.."

The Elaim School of Art. Auckland, sends tho following:—E. W. Paylon, "Tho Volcanoes from Taiipo," "Hanemoa's Bath, Rotorua," "Wairoa Geyser, Whakarewarewa"; Mt T. Clayton, "H.M.S. EndeavoniT."

THE MAORI GROUP. Mr J. McDonald, the designer and modeller of the Maori group intended to be placed in the Grand Hall under the Dome lias completed tho female figure, and the male &3ure has been started. Mr McDonald has been most successful in imparting to the completed figaro a realism and fidelity to native oharaoteristtice which, augura well for the success of the group as* a whole. Each figure takes about a week to model in clay. After the models a-pe completed they will be cast in plaster of Paris.