AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTS EXHIBITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9029, 16 April 1888, Page 5

AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTS EXHIBITION.

The Art Exhibition of the above Society was moderately attended during the afternoon on Saturday, and in the evening much more largely visited. There is room still for improvement in this respect, and in a community where persons gladly pay a couple of shillings for an hour or two of rinking, and half-a-guinea to witness a " glove fight," the admission fee of one shilling should be no barrier to seeing a fine collection of pictures. During the evening Impey's band played the following selections:— " Alexandra Palace," quick march (Millars); overture, "Au Ministrier de St. Waast" (Herman); valse, " Marechal Niel" (Enos Andrai); fantasia, " Royal Musketeers" (Newton) march, "Crown Prince" (Morelli) ; valse, " Gondolier" (Odardo); galop, " Mousse" (Asch). The. Exhibition reopens to-day at noon till five p.m., and from half-past seven till ten p.m. To-day we continue our notice of THE OILS. A. Aldis is well represented in landscapes, which possess his general characteristics. Among the best are " Evening on the Waihou," and " Scene from the Bush Road, Waiorongomai." In each of these the distance is well depicted. In his larger pictures he is not so successful in his foregrounds. W. M. Watkins has eight exhibits. In " Cloudy Bay" (Sounds) there . 8 a, very good atmospheric effect. Another of his pictures, " Cattle and Lan<j. scape," gives one the impression that he has taken a leaf out of the pictures ex . hibited by Moultray at a former exhibiti" as in style and colouring they are somewhat similar. In " Mount Robinson " the now effect is not quite successful, but the ee ]_ bed and the adjacent forest are very faithfully represented. Miss Russell is on represented by one canvas, " Near Frig » The picture shows that she has made some advance on previous exhibits. " R oc ks » by L. Robinson, is a sea piece, and is remarkable for the curious formafcj 0 f rock, which gives one the impressi on of a saurian monster rising from the deep. Miss Outhwaite is represented by o ne large and three small subjects, each of which contains some features of merit. In "Helensville" the treatment of foliage is good. Miss Buchanan's " Chequered Shade * exhibits a considerable advance, and together with her work entered for competition, .A. Small Cottage, shows a pleasing' effect in light and shade, and promise of something better to come. Mrs. Rattray is only represented by one picture, "By the Stream. ' Although little objection maybe taken to the foreground as much cannot be said for the distance, as here she seems to beat fault. « Sunset is the work of a young artist (Bollard), who has previously exhibited in the competitions, and shows some promise. The treatment of the water is very fair. " View on the YoseValley, ' by R. A. Carr, appears to be faithfully painted. Miss Maud Vaile has several canvases, showing good drawing, but the colours generally too bright! In future efforts it would be an improvement to tone and soften them down. Ryan has rather gone back than forward in oils, at the present Exhibition, but is improved in the water colours. His " Whangarei Harbour " is an illustration of the former statement. "Rata Trees," by Miss L. White, gives a fair representation of these denizens of the forest. ' The "Pink Terrace" of Miss M. E. Wilson scarcely gives one the idea as to colouring and topographical surroundings of that wondrous marvel of nature. Of the exhibits by Thomas Ball, "Whangarei Heads" may be regarded as one of the best. T. Cooper is represented by one oil, an old weather-worn hulk on the beach, "The Alice May, Lyttelton," of which the best feature is the hulk itself, the surroundings not being quite so successful. • W. Wright, a younger brother of F. Wright, who has been so successful in late Exhibitions, exhibits " A Bit of Auckland Harbour: The Intake, Mechanics' Bay." It is a faithfully-painted picture, and the drawing of the vessels very creditable. We hope to see this artist represented at i future exhibitions. Five oils are exhibited by W. M. Gibb. Of these the best are " Okuku River, North Canterbury," and " Water of Leith, Rtmedin." In his rocks and water he is very successful. In fact, the whole of his work is accurate and painstaking. "Auckland, Looking East," by S. E. Slader," appears to have been taken from Dr. Campbell's Point. The artist has been very happy in getting a good sunlight effect on the cliffs, and the Bastion in the distance. The shadows thrown on the water are very effective, but might have been improved by a little ripple on the water in the foreground. "The Fish Market" (an English scene) is another contribution by this artist. It was at first believed to be a copy, and relegated to the collection in the ante-room. It has, however, proved to be an original sketch, and is in the hall, though not appearing on the catalogue. The figures in the foreground are minutely and carefully handled,and the lightand shade good. _ The effect of distance in the mountains in the background is scarcely realised, and if some of the labour expended on the foreground had been devoted to the background, the general effect of the picture would have been enhanced. There are three " Life Studies." Two are by Mrs. R. C. Parkinson. The first represents a female domestic bringing in a "four o'clock tea." The wholeeffectis very pleasing, and the foreground and accessories so put in as to add to the general effect. In the other; that of a lad sitting by a window, the whole study is good. The third is by Mrs. W. Dawson, and is of a female figure in Continental costume. The colouring is very harmonious, and the drawing faithful. ' " Still Life " is largely represented this year. Mrs. J. McCosh Clark has several exhibits. Of these we like "Chrysanthemums " the best. The light and shade is here very well distributed, the vase on the table standing well out, and the folds in the drapery and the tablecloth are accurately delineated. In' her "Curiosity Corner," the detail and colouring are excellent, especially in the pearl, shell effect, but the distinctiveness of the grouping is somewhat marred by the plaster cast background, the outlines of which confuse the arrangements. Miss M. W. Home's exhibit is a group of Maori curios, with kit of , oyster shells. The painting is good, especially the kit and oyster shells, but the other accessories seem to . have a confused effect, and detract from the distinctiveness of the work. Another study ,by this lady is a vase and flowers. The treatment of the flowers is good, but that of the vase is not quite so happy. The general effect, however, is pleasing. MissC. W. Vaughan's study represents a statuette with a background of drapery. The whole is well painted, but is wanting in shadow to throw out the figure and vase. Miss Stevenson has chosen as her study, a shell and bronze vase, with blue drape background. The shell and bronze are particularly well done, the latter being good in perspective. ■ The other accessories are not so good.