ATTRACTIVE ART EXHIBITION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 180, 19 April 1918, Page 7

ATTRACTIVE ART EXHIBITION

FINE SHOW OF PAINTINGS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL COLLECTORS,, Not for many years past have' Wellington art lovers had a bettor opportunity of studying tho work of somo of tho admitted masters of British painting, both in oils and' water-colours, than is now afforded them by a visit to Messrs. Harcourt and Company's auction rooms.Tho collection of pictures there on view, and which is to bo offered for Bale by | auction on Tuesday next, includes works of a class not often to be seen in this ! country. Mr. W. J. Wadham, E.8.C., who- has organised tho exhibition, has long been prominent in art circles in the Old Country, whero ho has actively interested himself in organising exhibitions of the work of Australian artists. Himself ah artist whose work is represented in many leading public galleries, not only in Great Britain, but throughout tho Empire, ho enjoyed for somo years the friendship of the lato Sir Jajnes Linton, president of tho lioyal Institute. The veteran British artist was himself a connoisseur and collector, and several of tho pictures in the exhibition under notice come from his private collection. Prominent items in the collection are pictures by Sir John Millais, P.E.A. (a graceful study of a boy); Sir Edwin Landseer. the prince of British animal painters, who is represented by a characteristically vigorous study of-a lion's head: Sir John. Gilbert, P.E.A., tho famous-Vic-torian draughtsman and historical painter; J. E. Burgess, whose Spanish 1 and Oriental figure-paintings fetch such high prices at Christie's; David Cox, the painter par excellence of English rural scenes; and many other equally celebrated British artists. Amongst the several fine paintings here shown is the pathetically beautiful canvas, a true "gallery picture," by J. Iv. This depicts a humble cottage interior. with three female figures—women all bewrought by poignant grief. This superb painting is quite in the stylo of the famous Dutch painter, Josef Israels, and would bo a most desirable acquisition to any public gallery. Tlio name of Sant is usually associated with tho graceful figuro 6tudies of J. Sant, E.A., justly eminent among6t Victorian artists as a portrait painter. He is here represented (in company with his brother, Mr. G. Sant) by a most impressive 1 landscape, a large and riohly eloquent production of striking dignity of composition, _ ahd possessing a fine, atmospheric quality as well as exhibiting tlio artist's comniand of a difficult problem. Included lin tho collection are several fine paintings and drawings by Sir James Linton, P.E.I. In "The Spectre Huntsman," a subject suggested by a passage In Boccaccio, Linton's splendid command of- line is displayed, accompanied by a decorative effect which is quaintly and notably effective. As usual the draughtsmansihip is impeccable, and the contrasting'of the figures with the romantic scenario' exhibits Linton's mastery of composition at its best. This picture was hung on the line at the Eoyal Academy Exhibition in 1916. In quite another vein is an exquisite little picture, in the pre-Kaphaelite style of Eossetti, Stanhope and Sandys. This is on# of the gems of the collection, and it is to bo hoped that it may remain permanently in Wellington. From the same artist comes a delicate fancy, "The Pet Babbit," and a beautifully painted, study of a woman's head, "A Lady of the Sixteenth Century." A fine example of the modern treatment of landscape is to be found in the "Autumn Sunset of Frank Walton, President of the Eoyal Institute. Hero is a conspicuously successful treatment of tho difficult problem of falling light. Tho picture, which is instinct with a rare atmospheric beauty and subtle charm, was exhibited at tho Eoyal Institute in 1897, eliciting enthusiastic appreciation from leading art critics. | A deservedly popular painter, who specially exccls in his studies of English rural scenes, is Yeond King, V .P.E.I. He is liore represented by a delightful landscape and a charming figure study placed against a woodland background, firmly and cleverly handled. The genro pictures by Sheridan Knowlos, E. 1.0.1., G. G. Kelburn, E. 1., W. H. Weatherhead, R. 1., and Shaw Crompton, E. 1., will make strong appeal to popular artistic tasto. Mr. Ivnowles's group from "As You Lite It" was oxhibited at tho Eoyal Institute in 1916. Mr. Kelburn's charming little study of a Breton girl ("Waiting for the Coach") is. a graceful composition, showing a fino technique in its details, and yet broad and simple in its general design. Mr. Weathorhead's fine genre study, "The Old Gamekeeper," is sure to bo greatly admired. As an "interior" it is admirable, and the figuro of tho dozing man is a triumph of sound draughtsmanship. A delightful possession, this, for any private collection. A truly poetic quality is apparent in tho study from Milton's "Comus," By Norman Taylor, of tho Eoyal Scottish Academy; and the two classical studies, "Death of Adonis'' and "Diana in Eopose," by Francis Lemoinc, should not be overlooked. The delicate atmospheric effect achieved in J. Stock's artistic transcript of ono of Guy lioslyn's poems will provoke many visitors to break the Tenth Commandment. Close by -is a gay little French scene, "A Country Wedding in France," by Do Broos. In tlio painting of tho figures there is a Lancret-liko touch, whilst the setting is agreeably suggestive of Watteau. John Sowerby's Dutch scone, with children, and a big bed of tulips in the foreground, is quite in the George Weatherbee style. Another notable oxhibitipn on tho same wall is a scene from '"Don Quixote"— "Sanc'lm Panza and the Innkeeper"— by J. H. Houston, U.S.A. Tho artist has succeeded in imbuing his subject witli a pleasant suggestion of tho dry humour of Corvantes. Amongst other good things ard examples of the art of W. J. Grant, E.A., D.. Watkins, E.W.S., Claude Hays, R.I. (a delightfully breezy little landscape), E. Bundy, A-R'A., Talbot Kelly, J. 0. Banks, ant], F. Walshaw; whilst tho old masters are represented by Euysdael and Wouvermanns. Included in tho exhibition are a number of piotures by W. J. Wadham, R.8.C., aad A. Sinclair, E.B.C. All theso paintings exhibit a distinct capacity for effective composition, and a thoroughly sound ■ technique. Among Mr. Wadham's contributions the most notable are his silvery and beautiful Loch Lomond scene, in which there is a subtly beautiful atmospheric quality, and his strongly painted study of roclcß and sea, "A Grey Day on tho AVolsh Coast," which was shown at tho Eoyal Acadcmy in 1913. Mr. Wadham also contributes a number of scencs in the Southern Lakes district, and Mr. Sinclair's North Wales landscapes are specially deserving of attention. Tho whole collection is most interesting, reflecting, as it docs so many sides of art and embracing so many different schools. By the sale, which takes placo on Tuesday next, local art lovers will be afforded an opportunity of _ acquiring paintings by many famous artists whose work rarely finds its way to New Zealand, and 'it is to bo hoped that many of these pictures may remain permanently in Wellington—(Published by arrangement.) _______