NEW SOUTH WALES ACADEMY OF ARTS EXHIBITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume IX, Issue 2543, 20 March 1872, Page 6

NEW SOUTH WALES ACADEMY OF ARTS EXHIBITION.

Tiie exhibition has bi-en a great success. There, were 151 pictures—s2 oils, 68 watercolours, 30 crayons, and other drawings. Victorian artists gent 12 pictures, New Zealand artists 1G pictures, the remainder by residents iu New South Wales. In the list of contributions of colonial art sent from New Zealand, we liud the names of Hanna'oid, K. Hartley, William Eastwood, Albyn Martin, S. Warner, N. lloyte, J. C. lloyte, Mr. Symons, and 1 , . W. I'aruell. New Zealand landscapes seemed to attract most notice amongst the water-colours from the adjacent, colonies, especially the two by N. Chevalier. Mr. M. Uimnaford, of Auckland, sends (No. 11), The Source of the Otira, one of tho best pictures in tho Exhibition. Some critics, however, have thought the colouring a little toj fresh, and that the repose of the secluded econe has been rather injudiciously affected by the. inlrouuclion of tho snow. The roc-k in the foreground is the best bit of " teituro" painting in tbe .Exhibition, and is well worthy of the attention of artiste aud amateurs, l'he seclusion aud desolation of tbe scene is admirably depicted in the picture, which at ouce arrests the well-pleased eyo of the visitor.

Many visitors paused when they came to (No. 6)'Mavora Lake, in New Zealand, by N. Chevalier—a picture declared by many to be the geni o f the whole Exhibition. Tho same artist is also represented by two other charming landscapes—No. 142 and No. 113.

New Zealand scenery seems to possess an indescribable chiirm for artists and lovers of tho true picturesque, for in the Exhibition of Works of Colonial Art there are numerous landscapes taken in thai country, before " the counterfeit presentment" of which visitors and members of the " Academy" linger for hours, and vet again return. Besides Mr. Hannalord's picture we have two waler-colour views bj Mr. E. B.irlley, a JS'ew Zealand artist, whose works show how thoroughly ho understands the peeuliur character and atmospheric incidents of NewZvaland scenery, at contradistinguished Irom that of Australia. Tho views thus sent by Mr. Hartley are 12; Xakapuua Lake, New Zealand, and (No. 13) Kangitoto, also in that country. These two are for sale, but llamiaford's Source of the Otini to be returned is to Auckhim'., without any such option. Mr. William Eastwood,' a New Zealand amateur (connected, it. is believed, with the Society of Artists at Auckland), has forwarded two views in oils, which have been mucl. liked (No. 14; View of Fort B.itomart, Auckland, and (No. 15) View of tho Manukau Harbour. Mr. Aibyu Martin, another New Zealand amateur, lias done honour to the exhibition by sending an inlrri'Sting water-colour view of ihe Bay of Islands, catalogued as No 16. Mr. ;>. Warner, u New Zealand artisl, contributes an extremely successful water-colour drawing (No. 17j, representing a very lovely erene, distinguished by the al.i.ost unpronouneeablo name of Ngaruawahij, a locality (as it would appear) on the Waikato. Mr. N. JJovte, a New Zealand artist of considerable promise, has evinced his sympathy with the lovers of his art in this country by exhibiting (No. 13) Wai.garei ILnds. 'His brother ALr. J. C. Lloyle, another artist resident at Auckland, eiiter.-j the list with an ahly executed view of Kennedy's Bay in New Zealand (No. 10;. Air. iSynions, another talented Auckland arli»l, h.-'S sent, up five pictures. One of the-e (No. 20) is the Harbour of Auckland, in waier-.-olour ; and another, a small picture, in oils (numbered as 21) entitled Cm-sing the Bar. All the foregoing are originals—except No. 24, which is a good copy. Mr. Symons contributes also I href other landscapes, the exact localities lvt being specified in the catalogue. Mr. P. W. I'ariiell sends two original water-colours—No. 25, Puriri Tree, New Zealand ; and No i!G, i lie Loiers' Walk, si locality to bo found in many colonies, but in this particular eupposed to be in Maori-land. Mr. R. VV. Cooke, a distinguished Victorian artist, has also favoieil us wilh two New Z.'ahmd subjects in water-colours- Lako vVakatipu (No. 4) and (No. 3) the Maori Le ip. The cognoscenti have been loud in their encomiums on these two pictures, especially the Lake Wakatipu, which was sul.i ye-lenlay, at tho | rice fixed upon it by the aitist. It is an original, laken no doubt l.y Mr. E. \V. Cooke upon the spot. Mr. Charles Turner's Mount (jTeatfVH (No. 5) appeals also to bo a view taken in New Zealand, manifesting a m.is'crly treat-iiii-nt of lake and muunlain seem-rv. N. Chevalier's exquisite wafer-colour—Marora Like (No. G) —also brings before us a piece of enchanting scenery, such as is frequently to be met with in New Zealand, and when found made due note of by this accomplished artist, whose works are now so highly prized in England. Small as this picture i<, it is eminently suggestive ; elaborate in its finish, and yet so .«olt in its tone throughout that-the eye rests upon il, again und again with an increased delight. From Melbourne also come two other (somewhat larger) New Zealand landscapes, by Chevalier—wliicli are Loth exquisitely good, but in a brighter and less dreamy β-ylo than the gem of Mayors.

The following New Zealand arlUts' names are found in the prize list: —l<\>r tlie best ••xliibits in water colours, l.v artists : Medal to i\o. ."5, The Maori Leap, by K. \V. Cooke; certificate of n-.erit to No. 138, llarnlmm iJIII, by Aliss M. D. Martin; honorable tneiitiou to No. 13, Rangiloto, by K. Hartley. For tho beat exhibits ia oils, by amateurs : Alcilul to No. 11, Source of Otira, by Ilannaford.