AUSTRALIAN ART.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18265, 26 December 1924, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN ART.

« —— A VIGOROUS DEFENCE,

(raou on* own coßßEsrONiusxT.)

SYDNEY, December 15.

The criticisms of Australian art which were passed during the recent Exhibition in London were challenged by the well known Australian artist, Mr John Longstaff, on assuming tbo presidency of the Victorian Artists' Association. Besides other criticism it had been stated that the Exhibition, though good, was dull, with the exception, possibly, oi Mr Norman Lindsay's works. These' criticisms, said Mr John Longntaff, were made by artists, but they knew better. The general public in England, no doubt, was disappointed at seeing work very like what it was used to seeing at its own Exhibitions. From this new country was expected something startling, even crudely comic. Why .should there bo anything startling? What new country had produced art of a distinctive character? Not the United States, so much older than Australia, not Canada, South Africa nor any of tho South American Republics where there was great activity in art. The best Australian landscape painters painted Australia better than anyone else could. One had to he an Australian to Appreciate this. Ho believed even that parochialism was a force as regarded production, and that cosmopolitanism was not an unmixed blessing. Too varied an experience of people and countries tended to dissipate energy and enthusiasm. The greatest examples of art and literature were produced, often, by men who rarely travelled bevond their own particular districts. In tho case of Australian artists so far removed ::rom the centre of activity it did seem necessary to spend some time in Europe for study. There was not the same necessity now. though. They had representative collections of pictures and every facility for the serious study of art. He though that Australian artists would do their best work in their own country, and thev were doing it. It "was Kood to 6ee tho enthusiasm of the public and collectors for the work of landscape painters. It resulted in the growing appreciation of this very beautiful country, and added happiness to many lives.

Phrenologists hope to &ecuro the support, of the British Ho:ird of KdwiitJoii for an experiment in diagnosing tno capacity of school children hv phrenology. Mr (i. Hart-Co.v. speaking at the, British Phrenological Congress Jit London recently on the- forces l>elnnd the intellect said: "It is the intellectually clever folk who are causing most of the trouble in this country and all over the world. OhLiquitv of character is at the bottom ot it. What the world wants is men." Our gaols to-dav were iillod with wcll-edunated men whose ovennastc-ring passions and desires had Minded them to nil interests but their own.