Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1896.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXX, Issue 234, 3 October 1896, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1896.

The passing into law of the Suter Art. Gallery (Nelson) Bill, though a foregone conclusion with a formal measure, will be hailed with satisfaction by all who have the interests pf t the city at heart. It will enable t^e .citizens entrusted with tho (formation pf the gallcjy to take ' more .extended' .action, * an-i it is J hoped that new vigour will be infused into tbe movement towards increasing tho number of pictures already left to Kelson by the munifi.eiicg of tbe late Bishop Suter and $e late ivi.. Suter till they form an .art gallery worthy the name, It is admitted 'tbat tbere is much artistic talent in the yoiihg people of the district, and nature has been pleased to afford abundant scope for tlie development of tho instinct. In no place in the world are there grander or more beautiful scenes for transference tfl canvas. All around verdurous bill and .dale, bounding river and trickling streamlet, majestic gorges and snow-clad heights, appeal to our sense of the beautiful ; but we havo no models to imitate, no standard of excellence, no authoritative scbpoj which shall test tho merit of the young artjst, award him tho palm of encouragement, and help bin) on his journey to tho goal of excellence. If we had beneath us the carpet of Buddr-ud-din Hassan and could transfor our lovely scenery to the thickly populated elder world of Europe, wo would become a race df artists, and the home of art. Every .nook a;id cprner of thc gem-city and its circumambient bills would be immortalised on canvas, atid notonly would still life find its delineator in pigments Wo have history behind us, incidents worthy of the master's brush, and associations which in more favourable circumstances would find narrators in more (ban words. Has any young Nclsonian attompted to idealise in canvas thc Wairau Massacre, the arrival of tho first fleet, the growth of tho soltitudo into tho busy life of a city ; the stirring scenes in thc old Provincial Counoil whon tho nascent .colony first neoded law, and every actiou 9.f her legislators was the action of an opochrmakcr '1 " Wo have pictures of Poim aiid the Indian chiefs ; of Jobn Smith tind Pocohontas. Aro not Wakefield and Jo Euapahara fitting subjects for the easel !f ■ Hayo >ve a portrayal of the almost depopulation of the city when tho auri sacra fames drofr men southward and westward as by a Ipde^or/p ? Perhaps there are such pictures — blind gropirigs ' of $9 unenlightened, the ai;t-so'ul striving to burst the bonds of nescionco and seek tho freedom of perfect expression. But perforce wc havc porfUHttsd tjiat soul to remain im-

irisoned. Many a Peter Bell, to vhom to-day A primrose hy a river's brim, A yellow primrose is to him, And it is nothing more. — nay have become an exponent of tfew Zealand art had not bis soul Deen starved by the want oi the chor of precept, example, competition, and encouragement. But wo may leave behind us the memory of thc mute inglorious Miltons whose thoughts never found expression, and look forward to a tim. when thc absence of art shtdl no longer bo a stigma on our progress. With thc inception of the Suter Art Gallery it is fervently hoped that all the local institutions which endeavour to cultivate thc humanities —thc Institute, thc Library, the Museum, thc School of Music, the HarmonicSocicty, and thc Liedertafel — may find a common centre and radiate thence in a wide circle the ! light of the soul. Nelson is worthy to become tho homo of New Zealand art, to gather to thc Avails of her gallery all that is of excellence from thc brush of Now Zealand artists, and draw to herself the best work the colony can oiler. It is a noblo purpose, and it is fervently trusted that it will be nobly performed. The committee of the proposed Art Gallery havc a great and difficult task before them ; but thc dilliculties ivill bc overcome if thc people of Nelson will aid thcm. The work to bc undertaken is of colonial importance — in time it may bo of national importance ; but there need be no fear of results if wc aro only true to ourselves, to thc impulses which the loveliness tind history of our home should prompt, and to the patriotism which alone brings to a city abiding prosperity.