FINE PICTURES

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 254, 23 July 1936, Page 11

FINE PICTURES

Wellington’s Lovely Setting AN ADMIRABLE TRIO The three New Zealand artists commissioned by the Wellington Harbour Board to execute its gift to the National Art Gallery have produced works that have treated the Port of Welling- 1 ton in an adequate manner befitting a national art collection. The paintings have been greatly admired by all privileged to see them. "Shipping, Wellington Harbour,” by Mr. Sydney L. Thompson, is a strikingly bold, yet satisfying conception of a scene that is familiar to the many lovers of Wellington’s waterfront. The artist has vividly depicted a summer afternoon aspect of the scene from the harbour board’s building looking across Queen’s Wharf and its sheds to the buildings and ships and wharves clustered along the north side of Lambton Harbour. Beyond these again are sunshine and shadow on the hills, and in the right background is a view of the wide harbour reaching away to Petone, a glimpse of the far Tararuas closing the vista of the Hutt Valley Great masses of cumulus clouds, gorgeously tinted by the afternoon sun, recall the glories of many a summer’s day. The artist with consummate skill has caught the strong light of the westering sun on the mellowed brickwork of the Customs House and harbour stores, on the bulls and funnels of the ships and on the red sheds of Queen’s Wharf. The bright green bail of a Uttie coaster and the blue water in the harbour basin give a vivid note of colour and afford a bright contrast to the subdued tones of the black coalhulk and the shadow cast in the foreground. Those who are familiar with the work of Mr. Sydney Thompson will acclaim this picture as a worthy specimen of his great art, “Wellington Harbour,” by Mr. Archibald F. Nicholl, is a symphony of light and shade on the wide expanse of city and harbour as seen from Central Park, on the Brooklyn hills. This striking picture confirms the oft-repeated statements of overseas visitors regarding the beauty of Wellington’s setting. In the foreground the swelling contours of the bare hillsides are partly covered by the shadow of a, passing cloud. Lower down the dark-green foliage of the trees and shrubs furnishes a striking contrast to the sun-bathed dwellings and the lofty buildings along the waterfront., the great expanse of'whxh is convincingly shown. The strong lights and the clever handling of the mas.® of buildings gives the impression of a Mediterranean seaport, but the faithful treatment of the harbour and the delicate work expressed in the hills and the distant Tarantas tell us plainly that it is indeed Wellington Harbour on a typical New Zealand summer day. Mr. Nicoll’s picture, if skilfully painted and is a worthy addition to the National Art Gallery. “Lambton Harbour from Khandallah Track,” bv Mr. Nugent Welch, completes the admirable trio. This p’eture views the utilitarian port and city in their beautiful setting from an entirely different angle. Again it might be a Mediterranean summer scene, but aga : n it is really and truly Wrfington basking in fthe brilliant sunshine. The picture is boldly conceived yet treated w : th much delicacy in the handling of colours. Across a steep bluff, below which is afforded a glimpse of red-roofed houses, stretches the wide blue expanse of Lambton Har-. hour. In the left distance is shown Oriental Bay and Mount Victoria; to the right are the heights of Brooklyn, and in the central background is the colourful mass of buildings behind the Te Aro waterfront. Obtruding into the harbour is the great angular block of Thorndon reclamation beyond which can be seen the funnels of ships at the wharves. The red funnels and wh : te boats' of the Rangatira lend a touch of colour to the greyness of the floating dock. The blue expanse of water is broken by the movements of a steamer and a tug, as well as by a coal-hulk and a small ehip lying at their moorings. The picture is happily conceived and extraordinarily well done by Mr. Welch.