ART IN CHRISTCHURCH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12423, 12 February 1901, Page 2

ART IN CHRISTCHURCH.

COMPARISONS WITS OTHER PLACES.. MR ALLAN'S REMARKS. AN INTERVIEW WITH MR HURST S'EACHER, "I aam rather glad to get an opportunity to refer to the [remarks- made by Mr Allan, president, of- the Industrial Exhibition," said (Mr S. Hurst Seager to "a representative of this journal on Friday'afternoon'. In the course of an interview, Mr Allan had said that Christ-church was far behind other csmsr-es in the- colony with regard- to an Art Gallery, and occupied only a thirdrate position in this respect. '. Mr Seager is honorary treasurer, of the Canterbury' Society of Arts, was chairman of the Art Committee of the Exhibition, and takes an, active interest in art matters in this city. GALLERIES IN OTHER CENTRES. "When Mr Allan said that we occupy a third-rate position, ha was mot quite correct," continued Mr Seager. "It.is true that in Dunedin there are s° me excellent (pictures, Unit .the Art Society-there has only a" galvanised! iron shedl to put them.' int\ and the pictures are in danger of being ruined. It is the intention of the people in Duimedim mow to build a permanent building, very much on the lines of the one we have in Christ-church. * " In Wellington, the Art Society has oniy a very small room. In the permanent collection, if such it can be called, tne-re are■only two pictures, and of those one is a por» trait of the late president, Mr Barraud. ."There is a good'gallery in Auckland, but at has been formed, under exceptionally favourable circumstances. Endowments have been made under the Makelvie Trust, and Sir George Grey donated many .pictures." WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IN OHRISTOHURCH. I' "I think, -therefore, it will be seen that the citizens'-of Oiristchurcb have done, more 'towards an art ■collection than, has been don* by tba citizens generally, .of amy other town in the colony, and, besides this, they have built'a fine galle.y. in which to keep their pictures. 'I .think that th'e efforts of Captain Garcia should not be forgotten in this con-' mection, as had it mot been for him we certainly would not have beeffli so far forward. ".In. the early .days'of the Society, some very successful exhibitions were held, which yielded surpluses, and these were devoted to the erection of the building. This was objected to by some members at the time, •tort the wisdom W first having a proper gallery, and -afterwards devoting the energies of the Society to filling it, has been fully exemplified. The debentures issued are now nearly all paid 1 off, and we hope by the, end cf the year, or soom after, to. be quite free liwn debt. Whe'iu this is dome, the whole ,dt\ur income will be devoted to 'buying picture and other works of art. It sis also our kop'eHhat in a few years we will be in a position -to keep the Gallery for pictures and other works of art only, and not let at for occasional outside entertainments, as at present lam quite sure that, owing to the efforts of the citizens in the cause of art, we have made greater -advance in this direction than 'has been made by any other city an the colony. Mr Mm said that, at the Industrial Exhibition, the management had had to rely.for its Art Gallery, to a great, extent, on the good-fellowship of the people of Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin. This is true, and we cannot sufficiently express our thariks, but tie actual numbers 4ow that Chxistchurch contributed the ikger part- Dunedin contributed 22, ■ Wei--141. V . ■ ' " Ourvpemianient collection in our Art' Gallery in Christchurch; numbers 101, inoludW twelve' engravings, and the pictures m loan, 39, so shat here,, again, we are far ahead of both Dunedin audi Wellington;.. Auckland has had- advantages that we have never had'.' Some time ago the society sent Home £BOO to on pictures The selection was made by the late Lord' Leighton, -and, as a 'result, there are represented) in our gallery many prominent English artists, as well as our best local artists, among them being the late Mr Spw>tt'»nd Van der Yelden. HOW TO IMPROVE THE COLLECTION. "Do you think there are aay means of improving the collection?" "Yes. Till we have funds to purchase works, T think that people who possess good pictures couild be induced to let us have them on loan 'for a stated period. By this means there would be a constant supply of fresh pictures an the gallery, which would be made more comprehensive and of continual interest. The gallery is a much safer place in which to keep valuable pictures than any private residence is likely to be. I may say that at next meeting of the society, I intend to move that all the pictures lent to us should be insured by the society, instead of .us demanding that the owners should insure them." TO MAKE THE GALLERY MORE ATTRACTIVE. "You said just now that the collection in Dunedin- was contributed to by the University' .there. Could not •something of the same >kind be done in Christchurch?" " Yes. In the Museum, for instance, there are fifteen pictures, a fine collection of statuary, and) a large number of engravings. AH these should find a- home, in the Publio Art Gallery. Xlw division of our collections prevents an effective display being made in either place." Mr Seager added that the Art Society desired to obtain new members. The working members- had to contribute pictures to each exhibition, and pay 10s 6d a year. Ordinary members—those who wished to forward art by contributing to' its support —paid £1 Is a year. Of their subscriptions one-third was returned in the art union tickets.

'•' After what Mr Allan lias said," remarked Mr Seager, with h. smile, " we hope to s*:e'his name on our list of subscribers",* as he and 1 all ethers vha join-will give ma-, terial assistance to art in Ohinstcliurch, and carry on the good work which has been done by the society in the past."