EXHIBITION OF PICTURES
RECORD NUMBER SOLD IN CHRISTCHURCH More pictures were sold in Christchurch than at any other centre, and the total of £3OO raised was a very creditable reflection on public enthusiasm, as well as a pleasing result to the artists and others who had assisted at the exhibition, said Mr Sydney Lough Thompson (president of the New Zealand Society, of Artists), commenting yesterday on the exhibition of paintings for patriotic purposes which concluded last week. He added that although about 30 or 40 paintings remained to be sold, about £IOOO had so far been raised from exhibitions in various parts of the Dominion. Of interest was the purchase for the McDougall Art Gallery of Mr Owen Merton’s picture “Snow at Murat, France,” continued Mr Thompson. This was a very beautiful picture, and quite an addition to the collection. The gallery was fortunate in obtaining it, because most of his work was circulating overseas. Mr Merton was a Christchurch man, and the picture had been contributed to the exhibition by his mother, Mrs Arthur Merton, also of Christchurch. Her son’s work was thought very highly of in London, where much of his work had been collected. For many years he worked in Paris and afterwards went t9 America to take up landscape gardening. After the death of his wife, he returned to France, and then to London, where he died about 10 years ago. Mr Thompson also expressed his thanks to the Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews) and the Canterbury Provincial Patriotic Committee, for their efforts in obtaining the pictures for exhibition. The committee of contributing artists and the secretary, Mrs Rona Fleming, who had done hard work, and J. Bdllantyne and Company, Ltd., who had loaned their gallery and given assistance in many ways, had also earned gratitude. More than 150 pictures had been exhibited, of which 32 had been sold, and evidently the public was pleased with the idea of buying a picture and contributing to the patriotic fund at the same time, concluded Mr Thompson.
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Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23495, 25 November 1941, Page 10
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339EXHIBITION OF PICTURES Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23495, 25 November 1941, Page 10
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