SOCIETY OF ARTS EXHIBITION-

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8089, 2 November 1887, Page 5

SOCIETY OF ARTS EXHIBITION-

DISGRACEFUL ACT OF VANDALISM. During the forenoon of yesterday the pupils in Standards 4, 5, and 6, attending the Wellesley-street School, numbering in all some three hundred and twenty, visited the Society of Arts Exhibition of sketchos, under the supervision of thoir teachera. They seemed to take a most intelligent interest in the exhibits, carefully scanning the effects produced by the mediums employed by the artists, the sketches in black lead and charcoal especially fixing their attention. In fact, the youngsters showed a far juster appreciation of this exhibition than has been vouchsafed by the general public. The centre screeu in the tirsfc room, on which in displayed a series of engravings and etchings, illustrating the progre33 of the art for the last 400 years by worke of such masters as Albert Durer, Cranach, Burghmann, down to our own times, was also studied with much interest. The verdict of all artists and art connoisseurs who have visited the Society's rooms ia that the present exhibition is, from an artistic point of view, the most interesting that has yet been held under the auspices of the Society. The exquisite softness of the black lead sketchos, and the vivid contrast of tones which this medium allows of, is admirably shown in the exhibits of many of the artists, notably Messrs. T. L.Drummond and M. Trenwith, who excel in this line. No less than five of Mr. Trenwith'a sketches have already been sold. In figure, the black and white sketches and studies of Messrs. R. Atkinson and Bankart have attracted general notice, as also the spirited oil sketches in same line of these gentlemen and Mr. L. J. Steele. The landscape studies aud sketches in colour, both oil and water, are numerous and of a high order of merit, Mr. F. Wright proving his undoubted superiority as a landscapist in water colours, while in oils there are highly meritorious works of Mrs. J. McCJosh Clark, Miss Hidings, and many othere. The exhibition will be finally closed on Saturday evening, and a supplementary art union will be drawn on Friday next. We strongly recommend all persona in any way interested i.a the progress of art in Auckland to visit the exhibition before it closes.

It is with great regret that wo have to record a moat dastardly outrage that has been perpetrated by some scoundrel in the course of the day. Oα opening the exhibition this evening, it was discovered that round gum tickets had been stuck on the face of several of the exhibits, including the magnificent sketch iu black and white by Mr. Drummoud, 3So. 40 in the catalogue, entitled "Moonlight." Thi3 picture is totally ruined, and some of the valuable engravings are also sadly damaged. The committee will meet to morrow to consider the question of offering a substantial reward for the conviction of the perpetrator of this disgraceful transaction, and meanwhile the matter h&3 beeii placed in the hands of the police.