OTAGO SCHOOL OF ART.

Evening Star, Issue 6475, 17 December 1883, Page 2

OTAGO SCHOOL OF ART.

Considering the excellence of much of the work done by the pupils of the School of Art, under the supervision of Mr Hutton, two days scorns hardly’ sufficient to aflord the public time to inspect the exhibits. The thirteenthyearof its existence hasnowpassed, and the effortsof the earlierpnpila arescarcely remembered; but could they be placed side by side with those of the present year, the vast advance made would be thoroughly appreciated. So numerous are the good pictures in various styles of art that were it advisable it would not be practicable in one short notice to enumerate them. Most of the colored ones are copies, but some few are from Nature, and those, as a rule, are most worthy of praise. There is a long series uf sepia drawings from has reliefs, and great progress has been made in drawing from models. It will thus be seen that Mr Hutton’s aim is to create artists, not mere copyists. He himself is the leader In the practice of drawing from objects, and his many “ sketches from life ” will of themselves have repaid the lovers of art a visit to the Exhibition. It is remarkable that some of the best pictures have been painted under exceedingly disadvantageous conditions. One young lady, who, to her credit, earns her own living, attends the class before going to work in a morning, and after her day’s work is finished at night. Her devotion to art is rewarded through having produced some of the moat pleasing paintings in the room. Another —a youth —has done some excellent work by gaslight. Seme of his greys and other colors have suffered as daylight pictures, but his drawing is admirable, and the pictures effective. We trust visitors have not omitted to examine carefully the outline freehand drawings. Many of them aro of rare excellence, but one is eminently remarkable for accuracy and correct taste. The mechanical drawings are as usual good, and show how earnest are many of our youth to fit themselves for practical engineering and architecture. A new feature in connection with the School is modelling in clay, which has been taken up by Mr Boldini. The best drawings from the antique are those by D. Edgar (in monochrome), W, Wright (sepia), and P. MTatyre (chalk), and in sepia paintings (copies), those by D. E. Hutton and Miss Harlock are the most striking. Miss Harlock has also with Misses Scott, M ‘Donald, Woods, Dowell, Catamore, and Dodds, done some excellent work in watercolors. A basket of eggs and a jug from Nature by Miss Havlock is a very commendable effort, and Miss Scott has a nice foreground study with a nest, and also a jar and fruit from Nature. Other excellent drawings are—“ Over the Mountain!” by Miss Dowell, “ Changing Pasture ” by Mias Do Ids, “ The Lifeboat ” by Miss Catamore, “Happy Hours” by Miss Wood, and “A Tough Customer ” by Miss M‘Donald. Messrs Sligo, Bastings, and Manning have turned out some excellent oil paintings. Mr Manning contributes “The Last Trip,” a carefully-painted picture, and Mr Sligo has succeeded well in “The Stranded Ship.” Mr Bastings’s “ Farmyard Scene ” forms a striking picture, the colors being nicely blended, and the painting altogether being a well-finished one. In crayon sketches Misses Thompson and Hartley and 0. Campbell and J. Hendry contribute the most creditable, Messrs White, Shacklock, M‘Cartney, Mollison, Crawford, and Wilson are to be complimented on their neat architectural and mechanical drawings.