WATER-COLOURS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 13, 10 October 1930, Page 7

WATER-COLOURS

Paintings of Hon. Mrs. R Vane The Hou. Mrs. R. Airini Vane, a New Zealander, and a daughter of that good painter, Mrs. Kate Sperry, has a display of water colours in the city. Mrs. Aane is as catholic in her taste of subject and medium as she is widely travelled. Her works-take one from the rata-hung Waiho Gorge to Guatemala, from Waiwera to Algiers, from Heretaunga to Cartha"e. Nor does she restrict herself to water colours. Some of her canvases are in tempera, which medium gives a picture indefinite life, aud on occasions she combines the two, with excellent effect. . • x ’ One striking painting in tempera is ot an Indian tepee in the Rockies. lhe colours stand out in great vividness, particularly in the ornamentation of the tent, while distance and altitude are cleverly suggested by the misty-like mountains behind. Two characteristic pictures of Fez (one the noted Mekiua Gate, which appears on the stamps of the country) are painted on Shantung silk, which forms a good ground work for the sand and stone-work, where paint is unnecessary. In the Algerian gateway scenes one notices the characteristically uneven scheme of decoration on either side. Only Allah is perfect—they must not seek to emulate him. These scenes of glowing sands and staring mosques are most admirably painted. Lively water among peaker rocks gives a glimpse of Point Lopes, in California. There is also a perfect cone in Guatemala that conveys some of the mysticism of that little-known country. Artists all know the old town of St. Paul in France, a cluster of yellowwhite buildings on a knoll, surrounded by ramparts. This famous and picturesque spot has been admirably caught by the artist, whose genial colour sense and judgment in balance is always commendable. . Not by any means the least interesting are Mrs. Vane’s English subjects. There is a very desirable canvas, depicting Windsor Castle in the distance, with a magnificent elm in the foreground. Particular attention is drawn to the versatility of the artist as shown in her talent for painting trees. One especial gem is the painting of a woodland stream m Cornwall. There is depth and sincerity quite unusual. “The Pool, VV entworth/’ is an artistic impression of one of the stately homes of England, with a lake of pur'nle shadows in the foreground. “Raby Castle, Durham.’ is a stern old fortress castle dating back 980 years. It was the former home of Captain the Hon. Mr. Vane, the artistes husband. “St. Michael’s Mount, Cornwall ” and some charming impressions of the Waiho Gorge (with the rates in full bloom) and Hauraki Gulf are all well worth seeing. Her Excellency, Lady Bledisloe, paid a visit to the exhibition on Wednesday morning.