N.Z. ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 2, 27 September 1922, Page 4

N.Z. ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS

NOTES ON THE EXHIBITS (By “The Lay Figure.”) 11. THE OILS Miss Minna Arndt/who is also exceptionally well represented in the black and white section this year, sends two very original and charming paintings, “Decorative Group” (45) and “Decorative Group with the Little Old Women from Arizona” (136); also a delightful study of “Zinnias” (124). Flowers are prominent in the two decorative groups, and are contrasted by cleverly-placed figures, to which the adjective “cunning” would no doubt be applied were these charming pictures shown in an American gallery. Miss E. C. Dobie’s work, so strong and personal in its touch, is always welcome. She is at her very best in. “Drought” (48), in which there is a distinct suggestion of Holman Hunt’s pictures of wide 'Oriental expanses. The sheep are not obtrusive, and there is a fine sense of distance in the painting of the ranges at the back. Quite good. Another meritorious effort, also a pastoral, is “The Musterer’s Hour” (64). The figures of the horsemen are very cleverly placed, and the nightfall) atmosphere admirably suggested. In “The Great Kowhai” (71) the rich, reddish browns are very charming, and two studies of. horses, more particularly “Maori Ponies” (43), are both well drawn.

Another lady exhibitor, Mrs F. H. Taylor, has a striking portrait, “Ellie Roberts” (1), hung over the doorway to the main gallery. . This is. quite postimpressionistic in its audacious colouring, and undoubtedly possesses a fine decorative effect. Its position was wisely decided by the Hanging Committee. I much prefer .Mrs. Taylor’s less flamboyant, and, indeed, quite soberly-toned figure studies, “A Cotswold Ancient” (84) and “My Cornish Landlady” (70). In each is sound drawing and well-restrained colour. Mrs. Ann Hewitt, a Napier artist, from whom we had some excellent work last year, is lather disappointing in her portrait study, a semi-nude woman (37). There is no solidity, no feeling of blood, bone,, and weight in the figure; no suggestion of a heavy object between you and the background. That clever and rapidly rising young artist, J. Weeks, is always, to my mind, more successful in water-colour than in oils. Of his three contributions to this section. I like best his “Autumn Evening,. Christchurch” (151). There is some delightful colour in his “Chestnuts, Autumn on the Avon” (33). There is quite a Somerscales effect in Mr. A. Lloyd’s large and wallpainted sea-piece “Pitcairn Island” (12), which carries with it a fine fresh feeling of open air, and has a captivating flow both in the water and aerial effects. Mr. Horridge’s Maltese landscape, “Milleha, Malta” (129) is weak both in colour and modelling, and is lacking in proper perspective. The artist would be well advised to modify his ambitions a little. On a smaller canvas with a less pretentious subject he would* probably be much more successful, as he certainly is in his “Lata Autumn, Lancashire” (158). Mr. Carrington’s “Waitati Bay, Otago” (69), follows a niggling convention, but is possessed of some excellent aerial perspective. The same artist sends a pleasant little landscape in his “Pomebuin Valley” (137), and a vigorously painted marine study, “Stormy Weather, St. Clair” (26). That experienced artist, Mr. Houn-' som Byles, is represented by a vigorously drawn'racing scene, “The Start” (2). His “Sheep Wash” (3) is also a good picture which scarcely deserved to be hung much lower than it is. Mr. Byles’s other contributions scarcely call’ for detailed reference. Mr. Marcus King is represented by a number of small-sized oils, mostly coastal or harbour scene®, all just a trifle monotonous in the similarity of thor handling. . They are all very slick, and in their own way, attractive little pictures, but they lack depth of feeling. “A Nocturne” (21), and “Misty Moonrise” appealed to me the Two modest but essentially restful and pleasing little pictures come from ' the brush of that industrious and always conscientious artist, Mr. 'Kilhck. Both “Winter Willows” (89), and “Willows and Gorse” (1631 display clear evidence of honest nature study and direct open-air work. A word of praise is due also to Miss Flora Scales for her “Winter Ploughing” (162), in which there is a delightful atmospheric effect. A still life study by Miss D. K. Richmond (50) shows careful work, and carries with it a very attractive decorative effect. . Mr. W. Tiller’s “White Bores (52), which is justifiably made the subject of a catalogue illustration, is a clever piece of work, in very agreeable contrast to the crudely harsh “Fantasia (62) which is hopelessly bad all through in its execution, although not unworthy of commendation as an imaginative ©ffoi*t. One of "th©, three nude females herein depicted is apparenfly standing on thin air. There is less crudity in “The Masquerader (32) and the study of Trees at feilveretream (19) is, save for a harshness in the' greeps, a pleasant little nature Pl ATiss Cl) apple is at her best in her flower studies, “Chrvsanthemums” (87) and “Dahlias” (94). There, is f some good conscientious work also m Atter a Frost, Wellington” (76)Miss Rhona Haszard, of Christehurch, sends an excellent still life,. The Gurnet” (150), and an interesting interior, “The Garage” (153), also a fine studv of wintrv nature, “Snow at the Foothills” (120). Mr C. H Howorth’s Southern Alps scene, “Mt. Sefton” (66), is quite according to this artist’s well-established conventions in the treatment of such subjects. It suggests a studio work from an old sketch rather than oirect work. Th© same artist’s ‘McKinnon s Pass” (34) also Allows the old traditions. Both this picture and ‘Alt. Earnshaw” (9) suggest the expression “the mixture as before.’ An unpleasant stridency permeates “The Golfing Girl” (23), bv F. V. Ellis, which is almost brutally, challenging in the flamboyance of its colours. the other hand, the same artist’s landscape, “Nightfall. in the Sabine HilLs” (85) is a or s tine try pleasing and successful effort. I am sorry that space limits preclude any detailed reference to much other interesting-work, by. amongst ethers, Mrs. E. L. Prince, Misses Rata Bird. Bettv Rhind. Ethel Richardson, and Messrs. R. L. Tingey, J. Campbell. \V. Bodie, Duncan, G. K. Daniel, ana. C. Thornton.