TOLERANCE IN ART.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 101, 29 April 1912, Page 8

TOLERANCE IN ART.

— 4—2 AN APPEAL BY MR. BAILLIE. Some interesting reminscenoes of his early career in art in London, and some pertinent observations on intolerance in art came from, Mr. John Baillie, as guest of the Savage Club on Saturday night. He told of his early struggles) along the artistic way in London, which ended in his final determination to become an artists' agenJak^He commenced in a very humble firet — a long way from Bond-streerapjDne of his first succefc-ses was a haU|gJ?bwn art union. One of the best pict'utes was won by a iiiend from whom liewlbought it. He subsequently sold it ior four timee the original price to Mr. Geoige Edwaides, of the London Gaiety. He had had a long experience now of pictures and buyers of picture*., and he made an appeal to these present for greater tolerance 111 iiiatters of art. Some people hud said there was a. great deal of rubbish in his collection — people intolerant of the modem in art. But they should remember that all the great artists weremoderns once and that artists such as Whistler, Corot, and others were once laughed ut as "too absurd for anything." Mr. Baillie drew a, distinction between the real artist and the painter. The painter — and there wore many of quite exceptional talent— generally painted that* which he deemed v/a« popular and likely to sell. The arrist painted what impulse told him, hrespeetive of whether it pleased others or not. He was creative. So it was when one saw a picture. People must not imagine that the picture was painted for them alone. It was very nice to be able to paint a picture which charmed everybody at once, but there were other good pictures which might not please one, but yet might make an appeal to others to such an extent that they desired to possess it. It was, after all, the public who made the artist, and it was the public who very often had in the past killed good artists by intolerance. Unfortunately, perhaps, at Home there was rather too much tolerance. There had beroi m> many mislakeß made in thf* past that people were- chary about condemning anybody.

Meissr-J. Ilarcourfc and Co. ofl'eied at auction thi*s afternoon a hou^e and section in Upper Rata-road, Hataitu?' The propei ty wa« bought in by the mortgagee at £450. Lieutenant-C'olunel Wolfp, of Auckland, is to take ui> the duties of Ad-jutant-General ol thu New Zealand Forces, vice Colonel llubiu, why left for England lajjst l^ridtty-