NOTABLE ART SHOW

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 262, 3 August 1939, Page 5

NOTABLE ART SHOW

Paintings By Sydney Thompson LARGE GATHERING AT OPENING

There was a large gathering of representative citizens present last night lor the opening of the exhibition of vawuugs bv the Christchurch artist, Mr. Sjdncy Thompson, at the National Art Gallerj, ■Wellington. The president ot the Aew, Zealand Academy of line Arts, Mr. b. G. G. 'Watson, presided, and the exhibition was declared open by the mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop. Mr. Watson said it was a great pleasure to welcome to the gallery one of the most distinguished of New Zealand artists, M.r Thompson. As most ot those present were aware, Mr. Thompson began his art studies in Christchurch under the great painter, Van der- V elden. Even as a young man his work attracted attention. Since then he had lived and worked for years abroad, and much of the work at present on the walls was the result of his latest visit to the Continent. This exhibition, however, was the most ambitious lie bad ever held, both in numbers and importance, and represented the culmination, up to the present time, of his artistic career. _ One could not look round the walls without being struck with his genius for colour, technical strength, and perhaps more than anything else the feeling that lay behind his work. Mr. Watson said he considered that it was the most important oneman show ever held in the gallery. Mr. Hislop said he was pleased to.be present to see such a splendid collection of paintings and to do honour to an artist a fellow New Zealander, who had achieved so much. In narrating something of Mr. Thompson’s career, Mr. Hislop mentioned that, when in his ’teens, Mr. Thompson had achieved prominence bv painting a saddle. It was shown to Van der Velden. and Mr. Elliott, .of Christchurch, and such was their opinion that they persuaded him to send the painting to England for inclusion in a competition being held there. There it was examined. The judges could . not persuade themselves that it was .painted bv a living artist, expressing the view that it was probably the work of Wine Old Dutch master. They demanded proofs of authenticity. These were forwarded, and the painting was awarded a medal. When 20 years later he visited England, one-or the judges asked him was he the Thompson who had painted the saddle. Work in France. Mr. Hislop told how Mr. Thompson went to Faris to study under Constant, only to find that that artist had been dead two years. From 1911 to 1923 he lived in France painting away to his own satisfaction. Ho gave a one-man show in Baris in 1920, when his work met with consideration commendation. Now he had decided to stay in the country of his origin and end for a time nt least, his nomadic existence because of the effect it had on his growing family. Mr. Hislop expressed the hope that some of the pictures might be acquired for the walls of the National Gallery as well as the private homes, of Wellington, so that they could all enjoy the highest form of art which Mr. Thompson's genius gave them the opportunity to acquire. , , Mr. Thompson said it. was an ordeal lor him to say anything, but he considered himself fortunate in having at the opening of his show ouch a distinguished gathering of Wellington’s citizens. He expressed his thanks to Mr. Watson for presiding, to Mr. Hislop for opening the show, to the members of the council of the academy for their kindness, and to Mr. R. Gore for arranging the exhibition. He described something of his life abroad, particularly among the fisher folk of Brittany, and'how, after long study, he came to the conclusion that the human element dominated the Breton scene. That would be seen in many of his paintings. In the south of France conditions were different. There he was able to paint things more static, but still instinct with light, and beauty. It was due to Max Bouve, the French operatic tenor and painter, that he gave his first show, in Paris.. That artist, became quite excited over his work and insisted that he should give a show, and actually arranged it with Georges Pitti, the famous dealer. As they looked round the walls he hoped that those present would enjoy looking at the pictures as much as he had enjoyed painting them.