AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTISTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 5020, 18 December 1877, Page 3

AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTISTS.

The fourth Exhibition of the Society was open on the 29ih ult. to a private view of members. The exhibition took place this year in the Museum and Institute Building, Princes-street, the galleries being entirely set apart and fully occupied by the various exhibits.

'l'lic works sent in were entirely new, so that the standard of merit as well as the progress made since the last exhibition was reailily ascertained. The number of exhibits was not so large on the present occasion, but this is a merit when considered in the light of the fact that no pictures have been admitted without having a fair claim to be received by reason of their possessing some title to acceptance either iu the reputation of the artists, or the artistic treatment o£ the subjects. Thecatalogue contained 126 exhibits, which were divided into three classes (1.) Watercolours, of which there were 59 specimens. (2.) Orayon aud pencil drawings, of which there were 23 exhibits. (3.) Oil paintings, which were 4-i in number. There was ail especial feature of this exhibition found in the works of artists from the neighbouring colonies. Their names are—Mr. R. L. Beauchamp and Mr. Pikuenit (Tasmania); Mr. J. M. Nelson, Mr. Isaac WhiteWhitehead, Mr. F. 13. Gibbes, and Mr. C. D. Richardson (Melbourne) ; Mr. A. Webb (Geeloug) ; Mr. J. C. Hoyte, who was during many years resident iu Auckland, now hails from Duuedin. WATER COLOURS. Of the more conspicuous water colours there were exhibited by Mr. Hoyte, numbered in the catalogue 1, 2, aud IS. The first is a view of " Dusky Sound from Captain Cook's Garden." This picture is in the best manner of the artist. All are excellent. Mr. Alfred Sliarpe had several excellent pictures. Mr. Thomas Warner had also several good pictures, one of them, " Mechanics Bay in the Ulden Time," being specially noteworthy. Mr. Samuel Begg had two good pictures— "Evening," aud " Only a Child," the latter remarkable for its finish. Mr. Kenneth Watkius had three or four charming little studies, two of which were excellent in detail, one entitled " Light and Shade," the other " I'uriri Glade." The works of the artists from the other colonies were distinguished by a fine sense of repose and conscientious industry. Mr. J. Symons had a really charmiug little picture, entitled " The Coming Squall," were it not that he shows a triangular section or cutting on the right foreground, the lines of -which somewhat disturb the otherwise exquisite harmony of the whole. Mr. Ateherly, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Hammond, and Mr. Hartley, were exhibitors. FLOWERS. Mrs. W. Mathews, Miss Wright, Miss Page, Miss Morris, Mrs. Clarkson (I'ulcekohe), were exhibitors in this department. All were highly meritorious, JiLACK AND WHITE. The principal exhibitors in this class were Messrs. 0. Sturtevant, jun., P. F. Connelly, Beauchauip, Choyce, Mrs. Perkins, and others. OILS. Mr. Albyn Martin deservedly ranks first by reason ot his tine artistic touch (Catalogue 120, 121, 122, 124, 125, 12G). Beside them were a series of sketches, nine in number, by Mr. P. P. Connelly. It is necessary to state that they were unfinished ; bnt they revealed great artistic insight. A minute examination of a crag, with a pohutukawa tree cleaving to it, was especially noteworthy; and also some mariue vegetation ia the corner of the same sketch. There was a larger sketch, also unfinished, "Entrance to Auckland Harbour (seen) from Remuera." This was somewhat idealised, but distinguished by the same

characteristics that we have noted.' Mr T. L. Drummond had several good pictures. Mr. Connelly had a life-like portrait of Dr. Campbell here, and the "Portrait of a Lady." Mr. Kenneth Watkins had several good pictures. The Misses Outhwaite had two good pictures in this class. Among the former works, the pictures by Mr. Whitehead (105, 103, I0G) well repiid attention, so did the picture (1 IS) by Mr. Nelson. The artists from the other colonies all showed well. There was a repose in effect, artistic treatment, and accuracy of detail in uearly all the works.

This exhibition better repaid a careful inspection than any which has preceded it. There was nothing weedy orpretentious about it. It was an expression of artistic sincerity in the best sense of the word.

The following is a list of the pictures sold The numbers are those opposite to them in the catalogue: — Water Colours: 4, Mercer, on the Waikato, from Telegraph Hill (Alfred Sharpe), £6 6s; S, Loch Awe, Scotland (Alexander Webb), £5 ss; 14, Light and Shade (Kenneth Watkins), £4 4s ; Old Native Pah aud Burial Ground, Mangapai (Alfred Sharpe), £12 12s ; 21, View from the Bald Spur, Tamjihua Ranges (Alfred Sharpe), £12 12s; 23, A Coming bquall (J. Syrnons), £7 7s ; 2-J, Noontide (F. B. Gibbes), £10 10s; 27, View on the WestTamar, Tasmania (R. Beauchamo); 35, Geyser of Okiwi, Rotomahana (K. Watkins), £4 4s; 37, The Picnic Grouud, Auckland Domain (Alfred Sharpe), £5 os ; 3S, Only a Child (Samuel Begg), £7 7s; 39, Entrance to Cavern at Three Kings, Auckland (Alfred Sharpe), £5 ss. Crayon : 07, Paul and Virginia (Miss Minnie Ridings), £2 2s. Oil ' Paiutings : 90, Huka Fall, on the Waikato (C. Blomiield), £4 10s ; 93, Creek near Lake Takapuna (T. L. Drummond), £$ S3 ; 95, ! Coast Scene, near Wangarei (T. L. Drum- ; mond), £7 7s ; 99, The Pink Terrace, Rotomahana (Keuneth Watkins), £15 15s; 112. " Kauri, a study," (Kenneth Watkins') £7 7s, purchased by Mr. J. C. Firth. 101, The Three Kauris, Waitakerei Ranges (C. Blomtield), £5; 102, Lake Tarawera (Kenneth Watkins), £15,15s ; 103, On the Chiltren Road, Victoria (Isaac Whitehead), £S Ss ; 107, Ellens Head, Phillip Island, Victoria ((.'has. D. Richardson), £21 ; 10S, On he Coast, near Lake Takapuna (T. L. T)ruuimond), £S Ss; "'View nearTaranaki," (T. L. Drummond) £5 55., purchased by Air. Waymouth ; 126, Surveyor's Camp, Gisborne District (Albyn Martin), £15. " The Grave of James Fulloon" (murdered at Whakatane in ISGS), for £5 ss, ( L. Atcherley,) and "The North Shore by Mooulight," £6 6s. Mr. Firth is the purchaser of the last-named picture. It will be some encouragement to the cultivation of art, to know that the amount of money paid for pictures has exceeded £256. In this particular the Exhibition has been a success far in advance of previous years.

The exhibition closed on the sth inst. with tho ceremony of delivering prizes awarded to the exhibitors, viz., two silver medals, one to the best oil painting and one to the best water-colour drawing, aud a handsome palette with silver shield set in whangapirau wood, awarded for the best exhibit of flowers drawn from nature.

On the motion of Mr. Albyn Martin*, seconded by Mr. D. M. Luckie, Mr. J. C. Firth was called to the chair.

Mr. John" Symons, the secretary to the society, read the report to the following effect:—

The sale of catalogues amounted to £53 Os 6d. This represents SlO visitors who paid at the doors ; to which may be added, say, ISO honorary members and about 35 children, making a total of 1025 visitors. The Exhibition held in 1575 in the Choral Hall produced £55 0s lid (entrances and sales o£ catalogues), which, being detailed, gives a return of 975 visitors to that Exhibition. A comparison shows an increase of 50 visitors in favour of the present Exhibition. The result, however, to the present exhibitors is very satisfactory, for, whereas in 1575 a solitary picture was sold for £4, which was resbld, after the Exhibition, for £10, in this Exhibition works have been sold to the extent of £270 9s. This is due to the Art Union chiefly; but there are several gentlemen who have made purchases direct. Respecting the " art union," there were 24S shares purchased, at 10s a share, which represents £124. The expenses hare amounted to £12 ISs 7d, towards which the Society made a small contribution, leaving for distribution £112, which was divided into 21 prizes. THE AWARD OF THE JUDGES. The Secretary next read the Judges' report as follows : — Auckland, December 5, 1577, To the Committee ol the society of Artists, Auckland. Gentlemen, —In accordance with your wish reus to act as judges at the present Artists' Ksliibition. we have the honour to inform you that, after a careful examination of the works in your gallery, we have uuanimously come to the following decision - Landscape in Oil?.—Silver medal to 309, "Mornins ia the Valley of the Upper liuon," by "W. (J. Piqueint. Highly Coinmeuded.—Mo. 103, "On the Chiltern ltoad, Victoria," by Isaac Whitehead. (The artist was staled to be upwards of 70 years of age.) Landscape in Water Colours—Silver Medal: No. 23. " A Coming Squall/' by J. Symons. Highly cotameuded : No. 22, Erskine River, Victoria,' by F. K. Gibbcs. Flower Painting—Palette with Silver Shield: Ko, 47, " Flowers from Nature," by Miss Wright. In reference to the Third Prize, intended for figure-painting we regret to state that the few exhibits are not of sufficient merit to jusiify the award. ISIUOIIK ALEXANHEJt, IiOBRUT NEAL, Edwakd Bartlev.

[It is neoessar3% perhaps, ia this place to mention that the many justly-admired sketches iu oil, &c., exhibited by Mr. P. I'\ Connelly, were not entered for competition.] The medals were of silver ; on the obverse a palette, with pencils and maulstick, the tnotto, "Ars est Celare Artem " being inscribed underneathon the reverse the words "Awarded to" leaving a space for the name of the recipient. Various speeches were delivered during the evening, and the Exhibition finally closei at 10 o'clock.