"PRIVATE VIEW"

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 29, 3 August 1939, Page 18

"PRIVATE VIEW"

NOTABLE ARTIST'S WORK

There was a large number of guests in the handsome, spacious, and com-fortably-heated galleries of the National Art Gallery last night, when a "private view" of the paintings of Mr. Sydney Thompson,, the wellknown New Zealand artist who has recently returned from abroad; took place. Mr. Thompson is the first New Zealand artist to give a "oneman show" at the National Art Gallery. Mr. G. G. G. Watson, president of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, presided, and introduced Mr. Sydney Thompson as one of New Zealand's most distinguished painters. He said that much of Mr. Thompson's work had been done abroad and that this exhibition was one of the artist's most important exhibitions; "and," said the speaker, "we in Wellington are privileged to be the first people in New Ze&land to see it."

, His Worship the Mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, in declaring the exhibition open, spoke of the eminence that Mr. Thompson had achieved with his paintings and gave a short resume of the artist's career. Mr. Thompson had lived much abroad but now hoped to make his home in New Zealand, he stated. • .

Mr. Thompson, who thanked Mr. Hislop and Mr. Watson for their remarks, gave an interesting description of some of his methods when working. For instance, to get rhythmic efiects- he painted the people while they worked, not while they posed, and he spent much time considering his subjects from every point .of view; Many of his pictures had been painted in Brittany and Southern France, of which he gave some interesting sidelights. "I hope you enjoy looking at my pictures.as much as I enjoyed painting them," he said in conclusion.

Others in -the official party were Miss Annette Thompson (daughter of the artist), who wore .a long black taffeta cloak over a black frock; Mrs. Hislop, in a burgundy red velvet gown; Mrs. G. G. G. Watson, black taffeta. silk gown; Mrs. M. O. Barnett (niece of the artist), who wore an Alice blue satin and champagne lace gown with a cape of silver fox furs; and Mr. Eru Gore.

Apologies were received from the Rt. Hon. Sir Michael Myers, the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage), and the Hon. W. E. Parry.

Among others present were Dr. Robert Stout, Mr. Marcus King, Dr. A. D. Carbery, Mr. T. D. H. Hall, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Atkinson, Mr. W. Fergusson Hogg,-Mr. ■ and Mrs. W. S. Wauchop, Mr. Nugent Welch, Mr. R. Hipkins, Professor and Mrs. J. Shelley, Mr, and Mrs. A. L. Hempton, Mrs. Sprott, Mrs. M. E. R. Tripe, Mr. and Mrs. Vigeveno, Mr. and Mrs. J, M. Ellis, Mrs. Mitchell, Mrs. Oswin, Mrs. B. B. Wood, Mr. and Mrs. R. .E. Tripe, Mrs. T. E. Y. Seddon, Miss Dowsett, Miss Fanny Richardson, Miss G. Gyles, Mrs. H. T. Hanlon, Mr. and Mrs. Eric Lawson, Miss Nelle Scanlan, Mrs. A. E. Boyes, Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Vosseler, Miss Simpson, Mrs. J. Bennie, Mrs. R. Pope, Mrs. E. W. G. Coleridge, Mr. and Mrs. 3jbss Gore, Mrs. C. E. Maudsley, Mr. and Mrs. H. D. T. Ellis, Mrs. P. Marshall. Mr. and Mrs. W. Nash, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Schneider, Madame Bendall, Miss Paul, Miss S Carter, Miss Joan Jackson, Mrs. Douglas Jackson, Mrs. R. Boyd, Mr. and Mrs. Nicholls, Miss B. Boyes, Miss M. Tlichardson, Miss M. Webb, M. and Mme. Andre Pouquet; Miss I. Cade, Mr. J. Gillon, Mr. J. Holmwood, Miss R. Putnam, Miss M. Hempton, and Mr. and Mrs. E. Mayer.