BANNED ADELAIDE PICTURE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3174, 27 August 1917, Page 8

BANNED ADELAIDE PICTURE

SHOULD IT BE PURCHASBfI i-OR MELBOURNE?

tlio question of whether an art painting which was purchased by tiio .Adelaide Art (.Talierv at a coat of i 750 (says the Melbourne "Age," and subsequently removed from (he. galelry because of a storm of protest it raised in certain quarters, should be secured for exhibition in the Melbourne, National Art Gallery wits discussed at gome length at a meeting of t*he trustees. The picture, which is entitled "Sowing the New Sejd/' according to the description of Air. K. Officer, one of the trustees, is of the allegorical type. It has on one ~ide the representation of a nude woman, and on the reverse side a clergyman draped in black, obviously introduced. Mr. E. Officer stated, because the artist wanted a strong note' of black; fie considered it a beautiful work of art, and thought it would be an acquisition to the Melbuurne CiiiUery. I!ev. E. H. Sugden disagreed with Mr. Officer, and characterised the picture as "beastly and most objectionable." .Mr. Officer slated it was one of (lie works which enhanced the Adelaide Oaller.T. , The president (.Mr. H. G. .I'liriier): Then uhv was it. taken down? Mr. Sugden: Because it. wa.v~o particularly offensive. II was stilted that during (he first fortnight in which the picture was exhibited in Adelaide there was alw.iys a crowd round if. Then people and the Press began to ridicule it, and it was removed. " Dr. teener said if thai were I rue they Should 'not spend money on il. The president: We don't knoiv what tho picture means. -It is absolutely unintelligible. Mr. Sugden: The whole picture is reeking with sexuality. _ , .After further discussion, in which the opinion was expressed that the exhibition of the mcture in the Melbourne Gallery would court public indigation. and would not do the institution any ■rood, it was agreed to defer the matter until next meeting. In the meantime tho secretary is to procure a photograph of the picture.