ART GALLERY RECEPTION

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 90, 13 October 1938, Page 18

ART GALLERY RECEPTION

PRESIDENT'S PLEASANT "AT HOME"

The Art Gallery has never been seen under pleasanter or more interesting circumstances than last night, when Mr. G. G. Gibbes Watson (the recently elected president) and . Mrs. Watson gave a reception to about 500 Wellington people most of whom had an interest in art matters of one form or other.

Mr. aind Mrs. Watson received' the guests, the latter wearing a slimly cut frock of black matt crepe, and a diamante necklet. Mr. Watson's- sister, Miss Evelyn Watson, was with them and was in black georgette.

High vases of beautiful pale pink cherry blossom from Mrs. Watson's garden at Siiverstream adorned the table on the dais, and in the tea room the blue irises were a delight to those who admire the colour and form of these charming flowers. An excellent supper was served, and was a further

occasion for cheerful intercourse after people had been able to look at the many interesting pictures that constitute, the Jubilee Exhibition at present showing. NEED FOR INCREASED MEMBER- ' ' SHIP. '~ . 'Mr. Watson, after welcoming the1 guests, spoke of the wonderful addition of £5000 which had been .left to | the" gallery by-the late Sir Harold; Beauchamp who had always, been a sincere patron of art, and had been of great assistance in the progress of the Art Gallery ever since its inception. When-'Sir Harold's generous bequest) came to the gallery there would be | £20,000 in the funds. Mr. Watson said he felt that the Jubilee Exhibition was one which should be seen by as many people as possible, and so had arranged the reception to give opportunity to those who may not have been able to come to the gallery earlier. He thought that people would agree that the pictures showed that the artists in this country ranked well with those of the sister Dominions. He hoped that that fact would stimulate many into joining the Academy as members, for" the membership so far was not as large as it should be in a city such as Wellington, and he hoped during his presidency to be a help to gaining as manj*} new members as possible. He urged that when there was $uch a truly beautiful place in which to house the pictures and other art treasures in this city the people should be proud to help to increase the number. That could be largely done by a much increased membership as well as by gifts and bequests. Mr. Watson then asked Dr. Carbery to speak on the subject of art criticism. ART CRITICISM. ..'Dr. Carbery developed the truth that art is a natural function of man, as evidenced by the efforts of the children which had been recently shown at the gallery and had caused so much interest. The admiration of people for this picture or that showed that there was, and must be, differences of opinion in art as well as in all other worth while things in the world. Illustrating his point he told the story of Millais's "Angelus" which was sold for about £60 to" an American to begin with, and then, being brought from one gallery, to another, received a 'wonderful rise in price as more and more people approved the picture. However, later Millais went "out of fashion" and quite severe criticisms were levelled at some of his work. The speaker then reviewed a number of modern painters, English, French, and Flemish, and gave some idea of the estimation in which they were held, and the varied ideas people had about | each, some immensely approving, while others had no liking at all for their work. It was all a matter of education and taste. Art was one of the

means of, communication between people and nations, and was practically an expression of the emotions, stimulating life along the emotional plane. He concluded on a practical note, remarking that the best appreciation of art came from the purchasing of pictures worthy of a place in their fine gallery.