ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS.

Evening Post, Volume XLVIII, Issue 66, 15 September 1894, Page 2

ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS.

ANNUAL EXHIBITION. TLo annual exhibition of the Now Zealand Academy of Fino Artß opened at the Gallery to-day by His Exoellency the Governor. There are not, so many pictures &b at former exhibitions, but the walla are nevertheless well occupied, and many of the works shown are of considerable merit. To the right on entering are the oils. The first to catch the eye is a characteristic! Sounds scene, smoothly painted by H. VV * Kirkwood, and in excellent contrast in its bolder and broader effeot is a " Flood in tbo Pokaiwhenua," by E. W. Payton. Thore is ftn airy sunset scene at Mount Cook by John Gibb, whose warm sunshine and bright color tones are to be seen in several soasoapea. Mrs. J. H. Williams has an excellent study of an old man reading a newspaper. Near it is a portrait study, a handsome girl's head, by Miss Archibald, which shows much promise. Nest to it is a cool crock study at Silverstrcam by G. W. Baker. " Grapos,'"' by A. L. Perry, is good still life. Beside it is one of the most pleasing pictures in tho exhibition, in that it shows the great advance which the artist is making It is a study of water, gorse, hills, and misty-cloud noar 'JLVontlmzxi, by U. M. Goto, e^celleni m.a to drawing, perspective, and atmosphere. Just above is another study by tho same artist, good, but too sombre in tone. Ella Girard Bhows a well modelled and oppressive portrait study.' An evening scene by E. VV. Payton is a striking picture; but a study of hills and reflections at Pipiriki, by E. D. Drake, is too hard in effeot, and its colour Bchetne lacks warmth. The largest piotnre in tho room is a study of a little girl and boy, by E. Tolhurst, a young lady Btudying in, Europe, which chows bold merit. Miss Tolhurst has her best work, however, in smaller portrait studies. A fino panoramic view of Auokland Harbour, after the Japanese school, by Walter Bowring, is well drawn, with good foreground and distanco, but the water is not pleasing. Miss E. M. Rochfort showe decided advance in the well - modelled and solidly painted draped figure, an nnSnishod hand being a dofoot which spoils the genoral effeot. Maud Vaile has a soft evening river scene. E. 0. Turner has another of the somewhat; numerous portraits while a large picture of Major Kemp by Lindauer occupies a prominent position facing tho entrance. There are a number, of minor oils, many of them of considerable merit, and several exceptionally good flower studies. There are also two well-executed plaster casts, by Mrs. Gale and Miss Archibald respectively. As very frequently happons at these exhibitions, the water colours are of a higher average of merit than the oils. The placo of honour is taken by the large and very fino portrait by Tennyson Cole of Lady Augusta Boylo, the same artist's portrait of Dr. Collins being also shown. There a-e studies of creek, bush, and mountain by L. W. Wilson and W. ¥. Browne. Herbert W. Allan, a Scotch artist, is represented by a very clevor seaside sketch. There is a remarkably bold study of jutting promontory, surf, and sky, by tho wo'lknown artist W. A. Ingram. This is undoubtedly the finest picture of the exhibition, with its dazzling noonday sun and fine atmosphere. Miss M. Morgan shows' a very clever study of an orange girl, admirably drawn and showing originality of colourscheme and conception. fc-he has other clever studios. 'Ihe Continental street scenes and interiors of 1\ P. Barcaud in black and white, some etched, are a feature of the exhibition. 1 hey are admirable. The Barruud family is well represented in the sectiou, Noel and VV. F. Barraud each having fino examples. There is a striking study of snow-capped Mount Pembroke) by W. M. Hodgkius, but, his finest picture is a Sounds sceno. Miss Holmes has several exhibits. G. W. Payton shows a clover creok sketch. B. A. Branfell has an eicolleut pastel of Mias Gwendolin Gorst. E. W. Brousden shows a good fruit study. Mrs. J. H. Williams has a portrait study of a head. Thero are a large number of flowers in both mediums, somo of them of considerable merit. Mrs. P. 0. Reynolds, Dunedin, Mrs. Gale, Wellington, Mrs. Bronsdon, Wellingtou, Mrs. Stowo, Wellington, Miss Morgan, Nelson, Miss Roohfort. Nelson, Miss M. Jones, Wanganui, Miss Salmond, Dunedin, Miss Youmans, Wellington, Mrs. England, Wellington, Miss Best, and Miss A. L. Perry, Wellington, are among tho exhibitors of these. Mr. W. J. Crowther shows Borne handsome polished wood panels, painted with clematis and manuka. Mr. E. B. Izard exhibits some handsome wood carvings.