Paintings Sell In Spite Of Critic

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31786, 17 September 1968, Page 8

Paintings Sell In Spite Of Critic

Central Australian landscapes by the New Zealand artist, Peter Mclntyre, at present being exhibited in Sydney, drew sharp criticism from the “Sun’s” ■ art critic James Gleeson, reports a Sydney correspondent. Gleeson wrote: “As a painter of the outback he must be considered a failure, but as a decorator he often achieves quite charming effects." Gleeson was the first Sydney art critic to publish a review of the Mclntyre exhibition, which opened at. the Artarmon Galleries recently. He said: “Peter Mclntyre's landscapes are the work of a stylish painter and an accomplished decorator, but there is little of the real feeling of the outback in his skilful and sophisticated paintings.

I “As a New Zealander he has wandered in the Australian Deserts in search of

decorative motifs, but he makes no attempt to discover the spirit of the place.” But Mr Gleeson's review did not deter either the public, or purchasers. A spokesman for the Artarmon Galleries said: “People are still pouring in to view the exhibition and to buy.” He said that 22 of the 31 works on display, priced from $275 to $5OO, had been sold.

The Commonwealth Art Advisory Board, a body set up by the Federal Government to buy works of art for national galleries and government buildings, had bought one of the paintings, entitled, “Pacific,” for $4OO. The exhibition was an unqualified success, the spokesman said.

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