SALE OF VALUABLE PAINTINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6270, 21 December 1881, Page 5

SALE OF VALUABLE PAINTINGS.

The pictures, articles of verlu, ivory carvings, ornamental glass-work, mosaics, and bric-a-brac which was originally to have been disposed of by Art Union, will be brought under the auctioneer's hammer tomorrow. We have already noticed at considerable length and in detail the high artistic merit of many of these pictures ; the beauty, elegance, and rarity of most of the smaller lots. One of the pictures, " A Question of Propriety," the most striking, but by no means the first in order of merit, has been exhibited in the window of Messrs. Upton and Co. for some time past. Many of the smaller works, such as the " Views in Venice," the "Italian Landscapes," have points of the very highest excellence in art. There are some of them by French, German, and Austrian artists, which display wonderful reality in respect to minute detail and finish. The inlaid works of coloured marble, with floral and arabesque borders and devices, are also rare in this part of the world. The glass, ivory, bronze, and composite metal work ara in great variety. There are two "shields amongst them, illustrating classic subjects, which would be eagerly competed for at Christie and Mason's, or in any part of the world. We will go further, and say that some of these articles are worthy of a place in our public institutions. They are quite as valuable as any works of art we are likely to procure with a view to public exhibition, education, and instruction for many years to come. We know of no way in which a patron of art could endow our Museum more usefully than in the selection of some of thes« beautiful articles for presentation to the public. This splendid collection will bear the minutest examination. The articles are at Mr. Halliday's, Shortland-street, and Messrs. Upton *nd Co.'a, Queen-street.