ART IN AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4813, 20 April 1877, Page 2

ART IN AUCKLAND.

It has been said "that in the art of a nat' is containe4 the reflection of ita ljf e j spirit." New Zealand hopes to become a nation ; we can scarcely apply the above remark to this country just at present, but it is quite time that those who take'a r l interest in this colony should do someth towards the encouragement of the fine We are led to make these remarks fr having had placed in our hands a prospectT containing conditions and rules for the f matiou of a Society of Art. We that tliV establishment of something 0 £ this kind is an absolute necessity, and th ia mistake will be committed by lover of art among the Auckland public if the present neglect o£ • allowed to continue. A poffloS of that spirit which animated the ancient Greek is really wanted in Auckland. Xhe Greek were so proud of their works of art that the 8 excited the admiration of their conqueror/ the Romans. Cicero says, "These works of . art, these statues, these pictures, deli 2 ht the Greeks beyond everything." 0£ all the acts of oppressiou and injustice which the Greeks endured, nothing was so hard for them to bear as the plundering of their temples and cities. What was it that made the ancient Greeks so glorious as a nation ? Who is it that ensured her immortality? Was it generals and rulers alone, or was it equally her sages, her poets, and her artists ? The voice of ages has decided, and posterity justly places the images of these heroes of peace by the side of those of the warriors and kiugs. In England, all the large towns are giviug great encouragement to the arts. Those matters are.not left to a few struggling anu. teur artists to take up or leave alone as it suits them; but they are taken in hand by the rich tradesmen and merchants, aud schools of art are established, aud assisted by thos i who have both the means and the inclination.. Here we have many who have the means, but the inclination is wanting. It would be a desirable thing if some of our orators and statesmen were to imitate the example of that greatest of Eaglish orators .and statesmen, Mr. Gladstone, aud deliver an occasional lecture at the Museum on the subject of the Fine Arts. There is no reason that because persons come out to these colonies to follow sheep-farmiug, or to enter on meicautile pursuits, all the refinements of life are to be neglected. The English people are quite in earnest on the question of ttie advantage to be derived from the fiue arts; several of the nobility, and even bishops, have been lately lecturing and taking part in proceedings relative to art. The town of Lincoln has greatly distinguished itself in gaining the Government prizes, having beaten all the large towns inEn»laud being second only to Lambeth. We give the following extract of what took place at the last meeting of the Lincoln School of Art:—"Dr. Beusun (now Bishop of Truro) then proceeded to give away the prizes. It is a gratifying proof of the reality of the «vork done by the School, aud the way ia svhich it has spread the love of art through all ranks, that the prize-winners include individuals of almost every grade in the social scale, from the daughters of the Bishop of iNottingham, of the Dean, and of the Precentor, to the workmen at the foundries." Wo hope, before many years have passed away, that soia.thing of this kind wdl be taking place in Auckland. It is supposed that a ivarm, luxurious climate, together with beautiful scenery, is favourable to the producing of great artist 3. In proof of this theory Italy may be cited, aud we believe Devonshire has produced more great artists than any other part of England.