ACADEMY OF ARTS

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 123, 25 May 1920, Page 4

ACADEMY OF ARTS

THE SKErCH EXHIBITION

"Sold" is indicated by a red,wafer upon many of the works" shown at tho. New Zealand Academy Exhibition. Already twenty-five hay« been sold, rather more than usual. The show itself-is of exceptional interest, and the attendance of the public has been larger than is cust'lmury. Not for sale is a, collection of quite small, but remarkably realistic, .sketches made on the field "of battle. They are signed "Fitz." Soldiers who were " there," and who have seen them, have testified to their accuracy. Apart from their truthfulness, they have an artistic interest which makes them a quite important acquisition. They suggest rather than sho\v the horrors of the whole business of modern warfare, and its cruel yet. unjveturesque character. W. Fell is the signature to a few water colours, oni: of a great breaking- wave " Off tho Horn," and the,other a perfect drawing, "Dartmoor." Twn drawings of New Zealand flowers and berries by ' Ninn Jones should not be overlooked. They

bear botanical names, but are essentially works o( art in their drawing and'careful, treatment. They are on grey paper in passe-partout, and hang on ;i screen. Esmond Atkinson's trfithtul drawing of bush, rata and nikau palms- should be noticed, not only for its freedom of treatment, but sound workmanship. "The Hill Road." a>study of poplars by Joseph Ellis, is a very desirable drawinij of a simple subject artistically treated.. The idea of the exhibition, that of sketches, is thoroughly understood by Air. A. Nicoll, who contributes a half(lokcii of boua-fide sketches, memoranda of tilings seen and recorded, material for after use. '" IMiddlemarch," with its grey sky and the wonderful handling of weak light, is the work of an artist. "Southern Coastline " is another example of this kind. " Casting Off the Tug," by 0-. W. Haylock, is a drawing in pencil on slatehine paper—a. line marine study, of-a--barque on an oily heaving sea, with everything shaken out and ready for a breeze when it comes. A portrait of a. child by Beatrice Harvey is a most satisfying piece' of work. The treatment of' the boy's face approximates the delicacy of miniature painting. A finished work in oils, " Still Life," by Ivy Turnbull, contains a tall cylindrical vase of a pale brown filled with yellow flowers and others ot a salmon brown. By its side is a spherical pinched mo'.ith viisc. The work is exceedingly well done, and should attract much attention. Genre is ! i epresfjute'd in "Summary Ejection," a group of roysterers bcnig turned out of a house at night—a clever piece of work by Thelma Shaw. Violet Nelson, is we'll represented in some pastel portraits, and a very desirable drawing' entitled "Ballerina " iv the same medium. Her Tioad, " Lolita." in profile, is sure to be popular. R. L. Tingey's sever.il oil sketches will have, had many admirers, especially for their often vivid, but always truthful, colouring!- Clean, and sincere. work will be found in the water colours signed G. H. Garnham. Sketches made largely iv Nelso'i by T. L. M'Eldowney are conspicuous, for freshness and freedom of treatment. Cecil Kennedy's sketches, "The Bather" (oils) and "Evening on the Beach " (water colour), are among the best.in the exhibition. Mrs. Hegiubotham is well represented by sketches'in oils, which have a strong likeness in treatment ard colour to those of her husband,, already referred to. Two large water colours, both of running water and meadows with cattle and figures, are signed Delia Lynch. They both contain conscientious work, showing breadth aJid freedom and sound drawing. Unpretentious, yet compelling attention and resosct. is the drawing by Ina Lee of the Hutt River, seen frorr a height looking out to sea. It is a very clever treatment of atmosphere in late afternoon. Fine flower paintings of opulent hydrangeas and geranium blooms are contributed by A. Paul. A variety of subjects by J. H. Nicholson, from shipping to gardens, will find many admirers, The drawings of J. Evatt, "esnecially " The Road to the Beach,"' well deserve the wall space they occupy. It is not possible to do more than to refenin general terms to the exhibition s'ud to some of tho sketches. Some artbtic jewellery in silver and copper and enamels i? shown, consisting mainly of brooches, and then a few rings and. pendants Every niece has an individual touch about it that makes it preferable tn the usual jewellers' design. The exhibition will remain, open all this week.

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