THE ART SOCIETY AND MEDICI PRINTS.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14758, 30 August 1913, Page 8

THE ART SOCIETY AND MEDICI PRINTS.

TO THE ERITOn OF ' nTE PEESS."

Sir,—All who havo tho best interests cf Art in the community at heart must deplore, tho retrograde movement of tho Art Society in its effort to devote a large portion of tho walls of tho Art Gallery to a collection of coloured prints. For many yeara past it has been tho policy of the Art Society to reserve its walls entirely for the exhibition of high-class original works of art by tho best British and colonial artists, and there can be no doubt that the educational value of original work is infinitely greater than that of prints. It should bo the chief function of the Art Society to use all its influence and power to foster a sound Art sense in the community, and oppose strenuously tho commercial spirit which degrades Art. If any advance is to bo made in isew Zealand art, it can only bo done- by tho tiroper encouragement that is ."{forded to native talent.- Some weel:e mxo I visited the Art Gallery and found all tho walls of one room decorated with prints framed in showy and wholly unsuitable frames, which. could only appeal to a vulvar taste. Tho frames aro obviously intended to make the prints appear to be what they are not, viz., oil paintings. This, as tho merest .«iudcnt knows, is offensive to a true Art sense. Then the prints aro smeared over with some varnish preparation, brushniarks being left in an attempt, to produce the appearance- of oil paint. But in no case do theso brushmarks follow, or attempt to follow, the brush work of the original painting. It is merely a common and childish trick. Prohablv these prints are not the much-boomed Medici prints, but they have been placed on view for tho public to come and admire, and x loam that the public have come and have admired. So much for the muchvaunted educational value. It is a notorious fact that the great bulk of those who can afford good pictures are, unfortunately, not blessed with tasto, and their homes are decorated with cheap prints, engravings and photographs. An original painting of merit is a rarity. Surely, therefore, the Art •Society should look upon it as a duty to encourage by all means in its power the tasto for acquiring original works. Can anything be more ridiculous than the statement in a notice of the "Medici Print Collection Scheme" in your issue of the 23rd. that "it is hoped that Ohristchurch will soon possess a unique and valuable series of reproductions.'' etc Why, any dealer will supply you with as many of these "unique and valuable" series as yon care to order and pay for. In fact, the "scheme ,, which the Art .Society is so anxious to promote mnrolv i;lays into *lio dealers' hands. Again, in the same "notice ,1 the high-sounding phrase, "In America a similar scheme has been most successful, and has proved of great educational value," is merely conjectural, and I challenge your informant to hring forward any proofs that American Art hns benefited by the hanging of coloured prints in the art galleries. Thr Christchurch Art Gallery is one of the city's most valuable possessions, and it will be a. thousand pities if it is permitted to fall from its high estate and wear the cheap appearance of a. dealers' chop, hung round with prints showily framed to attract the vulgar.—Yours, etc., ARTIST.