ROYAL

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 144, 21 June 1922, Page 4

ROYAL

NOTABLE PICTURES OP THE YEAR

SIX NEW^EEALANDEBS INCLUDED.

(fbo* - one. own cosrisponmot.)

LONDON, 2nd May.

Last year-the selectors of the Academy pictures signalised a new era by excluding a number of the mastere o£ the more orthodox school of painters, and by a generous, recognition of the progressives. This year1 the public and the critics have no cause to complain of the absence of old favourites,_ nor is there in'the exhibition anything of an alarming character. Most of those which. might have been, extraordinary, say, in an academy of ten yars ago, are grouped in one room. This is a striking innovation, for it points to an acknowledgment of new methods,. new schools,. and it is cviWent thsfc ;the selection ■ committee, whether sympathetic or not with "advanced" .work, intends in the . future to recognise its merits. i ME. A. J. MUNNINGS. Mr. Alfred J. Munnings, always a favourite, has again several studies of beautiful horses, of packs of hounds, with delightful outdoor scenes. But this'-year ho will be noted for two more unusual works. In the first place he has evidently been commissioned to immortalise the popular London institution, "The Drummer of His Majesty's First, life Guards." The drummer himself is not investing, but his'uniform is, and his silver drums are, and still more is the gaily caparisoned piebald horso that needs no guiding rein and suffers complacently the tliunder of thei drums in each ear. Mr. Muunings is guiltless of any primitive affection or abstraction of any work, but his Drummer is 'hung amongst the "moderns." He has to .thank the gaudy trappings of the drummer's piebald, the gold and scarlet and shiny brass and silver for his exile. The Eicture will be a useful record for school istory books of the future. This artist, | however, has another picture which is very popular, "Win. Robert Rankin and her Daughters." Mrs. Rankiri is in delightful summer costume, hatless, and with Japanese umbrella. . Her two children are clad for the' summer and' thecountry and go barefooted, and each has a splendid dog. The scene is set on the uplands of a castle ground. Down the hill may be seen the castle nestling in the woods, and beyond a glorious expanse of countryside. It is the ldnd of picture that makes Bolsheviks and Socialists. NEW ZEALAND ARTISTS. - Now Zealand artists are represented by Mr. R. S. Hellaby, Mr. James F. Scott, Mr. W. A. Bowring-, Mr. Cecil Jameson, and Mns. Eleanor Hughes. Mr. A. R. Fraser has an exhibit in £he sculpture j section. Though interesting to New Zea- j landors, the seven pictures will .hardly draw special oomment fiom. tilie general public. Both Mr. Hellaby and Mrs. Hughes, however, belong to tho moro j .modern school, and for this reason, therefore, there may be appreciation- though probably not general admiration. /'The Way Home, by Mr. Hellaby, is an Alpine : scone depicting skiero,. tired from their day's outing, returning over the shoulder of a hill to the chalet which is just visiblo beyond the spur. The central figure is that of a man, full of rude health, and clothed in'jersey and woollen cap. Just m the foreground ie a man, collapsed and halt buried in tho snow, and sever*] others are nearing tho elope of the spur. Beyond is the mountain top and in the middle distance a forest of pines rising out of tho snow. The object of the study is not obvious. The figures are dono with that forceful crudity that is ffio essence of the irodern school. Apart from the mountain j scenery tho idea the artist apparently intends to express is healthy physical joy with the prospect of rest not far off. Mrs. Hughes has two landscapes in the water colour, section, "The Mill" i3 a conventional landscape eeene—the fill and tho" raill-wheel in- the foreground, the stream flowing beneath the- road, along which is an avenue of trees. The rural country rises in;the background. "Autumn Morning" is a group of. trees -with old stone houses bayond. 'The effect'of the grey morning is obtained from, the background of sky—in this case, uneolourerl in any way. It would appear as though the drawings are pen sketches and the col-, ouring is done entirely by mono-tint. A close view reveals primary colours laid on m lengths or patches. There is no blending of colours anywhere, save, perhaps, in the autumn tints of the trees, yet the etteot is charming. There is a rugged poetry m Mrs. Hughes's work; which is obvious even to the uninitiated. Mr. W. A. Bowring's contribution is » ™ 1 r fV^-Jg?^-1* of a ?irl> "An Artist's Model. Ine colouring la very well done lha girl is clothed in a\blaek velvet dress with a noh wine-coloured1 belt* and red beaded necklace; The detail work of the silk stockings and velvet shoes is attractive. _ The girl is seated carelessly and is ■smoking a cigarette in a-green holder: The artist has made, the most of the dark gold hair, and generally it is a • very pleasing »*y '« a 'inot ver? SBrious. subject, i Si cci J^sson has a. three-quarter lengtn portrait of a very, charming girl The dress is severe black, and reaches i high round the throat. The hair is well1 done, and the flesh tinting- is verynatural I Altogether it is a pleasing study, standing out from a background of soft grey. Another contribution by this artist is achalk drawing of a girl's head, . which thoroughly . merits its inclusion in. tHe Aoadomy. • ■ . ■ . . . Tho picture, "Silver and Green," by Mr. James F. Scott (Dunedin) is placed in the ''gem" gallery—a section of the exhibition that always attracts critical students of. art ' . ■ • '„■.. '■■•■■ Mr. A! R. fraser,. the Wellington sculptor, who until quite recently wa-s for a long time assistant to Sir Goscombe John, shows a small piece of domestic sculpture called "Tho Sisters." It is a three-figure group, and already it has proved its merit, for Mr. Fraser has had orders for three bronzes from this plaster-cast. \ It is a suitable piece for a small dwelling. In the London section of the Royal Scottish Academy at Edinburgh, Mr. Fraeer is represented by two woll-placed exhibits, which he sent North by special request. One ig. the plaster design of the War Memorial for Les Quesnoy, depicting New Zcalanders scaling the wall, with rough stubble in the foreground and trees behind. Standing to the. right is tho fulllength female figure of Victory, holding a ohaplet of laurel. This will be carried out in marble stone.. The second .piece is a life-like bust,, in plaster, of a New Zealand youth; it was exhibited at tho Aondemy two years ago. While Mr. Fraser was assistant to Sir Goscombe J John,^ a number of important pieces of statuary wore executed, so thai the NowZealand sculptor has had very valuable experionco in a position of much responsibility. He has now taken a studio of his own at 142, Brecfcnock^road, and it is not unlikely' that a professional journey to New Zealand may shortly become necessary. The Academy, on the whole, is no* a. very exciting one, unless, it maybe, with tho exception of the friendly duel between Mr. Sargent and Mr. Sims in thei.v portraiture of Lady Roctaavage, but it contains _ a good level of interesting work and genuine search for beauty. Much might be said of-the landscapes and the oeascapes, but some idea' of all these-hun-dreds of studies wall doubtless be gained by those more seriously interested in the Academy when the volume of . prints reaches the Dominion. !