N.Z. ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1879, 13 October 1913, Page 9

N.Z. ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS.

THE WATER-COLOURS.

[By "The Lay Figure."]

Like tho proverbial curate's egg, Mr. Worsley'a art-continues to be "good ill parts." How. an artist who could give us so eminently artistic a picture us " Amalfi" (78), broadly, faithfully paintod, delightful in itß Bliimiiioi-iug sunlight, its excellent, drauglitmans'hip, its almost magical charm of colour, could possibly accompany it by such palpablo commonplaces as liis "Market Place, Brescia" (31), the "Zurich" (101), and the " Porugia Archway" (98)— these three latter being the apotheosis of picture postcard art—is to me incomprehensible. But I am told. Mr. Worsley is an excellent business man. He knows his own particular public, knows what it wants and wit'li admirable industry, • and an unfailing flair for the all-important customer, gives it exactly what it wants. Tho "Cumberland Farm " (100) is' Mr. Worsloy's, " next best" after the "Amalfi"—a long way after. The "Mount Cook" (66) and the " Mount Sefton" (108) are quit© harmless pot boilers. Owon Morton. , . Iteally it is time someone expostulated quite seriously, very seriously.'with' that clever young son of the "Catnedral City," Mr. Owen Merton. Where once promise was so brave, present day performance is terribly mediocre. Apparently, M-f. 'Merton, deeming himself safe behind the recently acquired R.8.A., has come to tho conclusion that he can scrap-heap his most mediocro sketches upon an Antipodean public Last year ho sent two really good things —one an admirablo interior, which was wisely .secured for the permanent collection. This year, v.'ero I the fortunato possessor of an income, running into fivo figures, there is but one of tho Mortons, 'Watching for Smugglers" (4o), in which there is most captivating atmospherio effect, for which I would write a modest cheque. , 'All tnrough Mr. 0. Merton's work this year runs an elemont of mere slickness and of scamped drawing. Uninteresting subjects, a wilful flouting of all considerations of .care and thoroughness —these are but too plainly prominent features in this year s contributions. If his Home-exhibited work bo no better than this, Mr. Merton has "missed tho bus." Mr. Walsh's Marines. Another ex-Christchurch man, Mr. A. ,W. Walsh, sends ono really "ringing" thing, "A Grey Pay, Auckland'*' (51), which is ono of the best marine studios this'artist has evor given us; and a fair to middling landscape, "In tho Otira" ' (29), with an excess of the Walshian j .. purplo, and a clumsily-drawn horseman on a perfect caricature of a horse quito spoiling the foreground. Also, there u a common-placo marine, quito iu ..lie "pretty-pretty"- stylo of tho Wright ' Brothers, "Summer Evening, Auckland" (70), and two studios of shipping, good enough in thoir way, but miles behind No. SI. It is sincerely to bo hoped , that the onco vigorous and original Mr. • AValsh is not succumbing to "business" influences. The "Grey Day" is against such a theory, but the others—well, they are so cSliberately "naiso" that they make me fear for tho artist's lu-' ture—as an artist for art's sake. Mr. Norman Weloh. Mr. Norman i.WteMl recently hold a ■ successful "one man show" at the M'Gregor Wright Gallery. viiovertheless, ho is, I am glad to say, woll re-, presented hore,/tiie most important of his threo water-colours being an exceptionally. . lino landscapo, ' 'Tho ■ Morning . Muster" (89). This ia far and away the most ambitious-ahd most successful work this clover young .artist has yet , showii in Wellington, being possessed.of true poetic feeling, soundly drawn, and delightfully harmonious in its colour. To tho credit of tho council's discernment, this picture has boen acquired for tho permanent collection. ''The ' Pool" (82.) is another effective' composition, although fault may be found with tho placing of the reflections in tho 1 water. Miss Richmond and Mr. Atkinson. Miss D. K. Richmond's most noteworthy effort this year is her largo water-colour, "Summer Afternoon, Wairua George, Nelson" (73), in which there is a fine mellow quality. The figures on ■ tho liiiisido are cleverly placed, tho scorching sunlight on tho bare hills— to the right—is quite realistically reproduced, and thero is a fine aerial perspective. 1 still quarrel with this artist's idea of painting tree foliago, but she has made hor own convention and remaics faithful to it, ,Of the smaller pictures I prefer the unpretentious, but oxcellent, little sketch, "Tho Gardens" (60). "Tho Dutch River" (17) is romarkablo for its sky effects, which, to me, suggest a rugged mountain,- irldeed an alpine range. Mr. Atkinson's work is singularly' disappoint- . ing, coming, as it does, so soon after tho high promise shown by his work at a recent exhibition at tho M'Gregor Wright gallery, is a study in unredeemed ugliness, his "Lowry Bay and the Hutt Valley" (19) would tako a high place, but it is surely far from any truth to Nature. No. 14; "On tho Coast Near Patea," is distinctly hotter, but tho inevitable "Dreadnought" picture (33) is a poor production. Wliero aro the fine atmospherio marines, the admirablo Mountain scenic effects of the M'Gregor Wright show? A Ghrlstchurch Quartet. Tho pictures of E. and' R. M. Hyghes and Miss Stoddart are like "nice deeds in a naughty world." Really, were it not for outside work this years watercolours would be a very poor lot. "A Cottago in Devonshire" (83), and "Harvest" (96), by IS. Hughes, iaro both!excellent, possessing a quite resonant noto of Nature, strong, yet never harsh, in colouring, and both, especially No. 83, having a lino atmosphore. In the "Harvest" picture noto the boldly-handled, buoyantly-brisk sky.. Tho two piotures signed It. Ai. Hughes, "After Harvest" j (74), and "Spring" (87) are interesting, ! but there is a suspicion of a niggling effect, as if the colour had beon pumiced oyer. But all these Hughes pictures aro .immeasurably, superior to tho majority of' the Wellington work. Tho "Devonshire Cottago" (83) strikes mo as being ono of tho best things in the show. It is priced at an extremely modest figure, and I should like to seo it remain in Wellington, for it is by no means inferior to not a fow of tho ex- : travagantly priced English pictures bought from tho Baillio collection.

Miss Stoddart's work, iilwnys delieato, often imbued with a true poetic feeling, always conscicntious, if not often straying beyond tho artist's rather timid conventions, is always welcome. This vcwr old "Old Almond Tree" (60) and Lor dolightfiil little study "Iris" (77) are exceptionally charming. "Among tho Sandhills" (75) is raoro an artist's picture, and I do not caro very much for hor "Lyttelton Harbour" (64), in which Miss Stoddart repeats an overfamiliar trick' of painting rocks inoro for pictorial eirwt than with a regard for Nature. i»ut tliero is a delighttud little river sceno (S)2), which should not bo overlooked.

Our old friend, Mr. Herdman-Smith, 11.1 i.A., sends some interesting work, most of which has been badly treated by tho hanging committee. Mr. HerdmanSmith's stylo is that of the sound old British wator-colour school. His "Richmond Castle" (84) is his best' contribution, an cxcollont subject., soberly treated, boaring unmistultaTTio evidcnco of sound, truly artistic work, and laudably freo from any more trickincss of effect. Other contributions arc "Early

Morning, Whitby Harbour" (97), two attractive littlo Continental "bits," one Swiss, one Dutch, and a pleasant littlo Dorsetshire rural scene, gay in colour 'and very attractive. Some Local Artists. Of tho younger local artists who favour wator-colours Mr. • W. H. Carter, jiinr., shows tho most promising work. Mr. Carter stands quito apart from his comrades in that he possesses exceptionally strong imaginative power. His courage in carrying out _liis_ colour sclioraeß fioinotimes leads him into the merely bizarre and weird, but this year ho has, for tho most part ( kept a ohcck upon his natural audacity, and tho result is some work which challenges attention, and ia deserving of generous admiration. Tho two pastels, "Moonlight and Starlight'' (30) and "Sunset, Acacia Grove, Keri-Kori" (44), strike mo as being work of outstanding merit. Ih tho first, a charming nocturne, the blues and greens aro most harmoniously blended. Tho medium suits tho subject admirably, Tho "Sunset", (44) has a fine decorative quality, and reminds me of sonii) of l'oolet's striking pastel, nocturne, which havo from, time to timo been reproduced in "Tho Studio." Another good contribution froijj Mr. Carter is the highly imaginative "Whither" (52).' Altogether, this industrious anrl painstaking young artist has made a. big advance this year. Good work, too, is ahownr by Miss Ina Leo, of tho Hutt. Miss' Lee is not afraid of colour, and clearly rovels in strong ■ sunlight. "Springtime, Hutt Valley" (24), "Reflections (26), and "Muritai Beach" (32), especially the last, _arc all quito markedly good sketches. Somo may fuibble over tho audacious gaiety of her colour, but the' frankness, the sincerity of her work, is undeniable. Instead, however, of sending in a number of small sketches, I would that Miss Lee—and this remark applies .to several other contributors to tho water-colour section—would make a good honest attempt at something moro complex, more ambitioiji. After oil, tho annual' show should not be a mere sketch exhibition. In her "Forest Lake, Otaki" (88), Miss Loo goes nearer a "big thing." Her work here shows a depth and substantial quality which ia an agreoablo contrast to tho excessive lightness, almost triviality, of her other drawings. Moro work next year on the lines of No. 88, please 1 My congratulations to Miss Jessio Newton for her "Pastorale, Wainui-o-mata" (103). Here again is evidence of honest effort after something moro than a mere skotoh. There is quite' a note of romance, and the picture as a picturo has a distinctly pleasant decorative effect. •

Miss Vera Chapman's "Wanganui Bridge" (22) is positively gorgeous in colour, but it is the colour of Southern Italy or Sicily rather than Now Zealand. I prefer Miss Chapman's work on tho opposite wall, in the oils section. Mr. Garnharm's work' shows distinct improvement. He is getting more confidence, tho draughtsmanship is sounder, and thero i 3 more atmosphere in his work, especially in his Island Bay sceno (94), than was formerly the case. . A word or two of congratulation to Mr. W. L. Palmor, whose "Pencarrow" (11) is full of promiso. And Some Others, Mrs. Hannah's pastel work is very disappointing this year.. Correct drawing was never this artist's strong point, and her "Pastel Study" (69), in which there is some lino, strong colour, is distinctly marred by careless drawing. Tho same artist's "Sketch of a Head" (43), also a pastel, is devoid of refinement, and almost deliberately coarsened in eefl'ct by a multiplicity of slapdash, unnecessary lines, which distract attention from tho actual subject. It ia a distinct plensuro to turn to tho two delicatoly charming water-col-by Mr: C. Y. Fell.' In both, but particularly in tho "Porto Harbour,' Dorset" (18), the treatmont of tho sky .is subtly suggestive and' convincing. Both theso pictures aro far removed from commonplace, and I hope next year to welcome further and moro ambitious expositions of an art which is rich in delicacy and reql feeling. • Dr. Fell, an ex-president of tho Academy, is represented by a forest study, "Our Camp at the Bay of Islands," iu which there is some fine, deep colour. Tho light effects through' the tree add greatly to the general attractiveness of the picturo.

Mr. W. Bowring has two portraits, one, of a well-known local banker, a strikingly successful likeness; Mr.' Harry Rountre, tho English humorous artist,*,sonds some highly-amusing drawings; iiml Mr. Vivian Smith's two decorativo designs, in tempera, more curious than attractice, are worthy of noto. A lady artist, Mrs. Foader contributes an agreeably fanciful "Aucassin and Nicolette," and Miss Holmes some small scotches, pleasant in colour, but not too sound in drawing. Lobking over my notes, I find I havo omitted any mention of Miss Mowldoy's work. Hor pastel drawing of a lady, "The Black Gown" (86), has beon greatly and justly admiredi The dress is beautifuly painted, and tho poso of tho figure is oxcellent. ( There are several other drawings to which I would fain havo alluded in detail but I have already trespassed sovorely upon tho editorial liberality as regards spaco limits, and I must, bring my article to a close. Black and White. Some striking black and white work is sK/jwn by Mr. L. Booth, of Christclnireh, a young artist who is qvidontly well endowed with the gift of imagination. His weird and finely-decorativo drawings recall the work of Austin Sparro and Vernon Hill. Mr. Booth should havo a future beforo him as an illustrator of imaginative literary work.

Sculpture and Art Crafts Work. No notice of the 'Exhibition would bo complete without soni© mention of the exceptionally fine display of sculpture and carving by the instructors and students of the Technical School. Tho variety.and general excellence of tho mouellfng work will come as a pleasant surpriso to'many who may not nithorto have,been awaro that this, the oldest and most dignified form of art, is now receiving such attention in Wellington. Australia has produced one sculptor of admitted' prc'-eminence,. not _ only amongst, British but Continental sculptors, Mr. Bertram M'Kennal, and I seo no reason why New Zealand should not some day bo equally honoured in one of its sons. 'At any Tato a good beginning is now being mado: Messrs. J. Ellis, G. R. Pitkethly, A. E. Bonder, and K. M. 3allantyno, and Miss Ethel- F. Gyles all show work, portrait studies and portrait busts, which is of a high order of artistic morit. # . Interesting and promising work in wood and st-ono carving is shown by A. M. Ballantyne, D. Levi, E. Port, M. Still, E. Hogg, and Mrs. E. M. Lewis. Tho jewellery of Mr. Alfred Atkinson and Mrs. Pitkethly, and tho leather work of Miss Ida Locking, should also bo inspected by visitors. 'Clip attendance at tlio Exhibition has so far been very poor, much worso than last year. This is a great pity, as it must bo greatly discouraging to tho faithful little band who endeavour to keep tho standard of art flying in Wellington. Tim admission is only a shilling. art union tickets are purchasable at the same pries, and last, but not least, many of. tho pictures, soma of quite outstanding merit, are most modestly priced. It is to bo hoped that this week the attendance will improve, and that tho helpful little red "salo tickets'/ will bo more in evidence than they are now.