ART EXHIBITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9358, 8 May 1889, Page 5

ART EXHIBITION.

The . Art Exhibition at the Choral Hall ivas fairly attended yesterday afternoon. In the evening, however, being the Choral Society's practising night, it was closed. The art union will be drawn on Friday evening. There lias been a good demand for tickets, and a large number have been sold. Members of the Society who have not yet paid their subscriptions must do so before Friday evening if they wish to have the share in the art union to which their subscription entitles them. The prizes for the annual competitions will be distributed at eight o'clock this evening. In Class 1., Studies by Pupils and Amateurs, Section la, Study of a Head from Life, in Monochrome, there were six competitors, and the work was considerably better than last year. The prize subject, by Miss M. O. Stoddart, of Christchurch, shows some exceedingly good work, the light and shade being very effectively managed, and the beard especially being free and (lowing. Miss E. E. Manning, also of Christchurch, takes the certificate. A portrait of a little girl, by Miss Catherine J Leach, of the Christchurch School of Art, shows the usual freedom displayed by pupils of that institution. In Section '2, Study of a Head, Bust, or Figure, from the Antique. There were four competitors. Miss E. E. Mannings, of Christchurch, takes first prize with the Head of Mercury. The foreshortening of the face, and the rounding up of the features, is very nicely managed, and the whole effect is gained with little effort. The second certificate falls to Walter E. Harvie for his head of Laocoon. The work is good, but somewhat laboured. A head of Ajax in this section, by Miss Alice J. West,wood, is tolerably good in the upper portion, but)' l>he lower part: in vory flevb. In Section 3, Shaded Study from the Round Ornament, there were six entries, and M. Gee, of the Christchurch School of Art, takes the prize with a bold and very effective ornament, a piece of acanthus leaf. The light and shade is excellently treated, the whole drawing being quite luminous. Miss H. Bastard comes second, with a very careful drawing showing a block of stone composing part of a frieze. It is somewhat weak in light and shade, but is well projected on the paper. Miss Effie Plummet' has a very good drawing in this section, but there are several defects in the scrolls, which doubtless prevented it taking a prize. In Section 4, Study of Still Life, Flowers or Foliage in Oil, there were twelve competitors. Mrs. R. C. Parkinson takes the prize with a very simple subject, arum lilies, admirably treated. The arrangement of light and shade, and the reflected lights are very artistically managed. This exhibit also carries off the bronze medal for the best work in the class. The second certificate is awarded to Miss Jessie Ediniston for a group of vases, shells, and other accessories, the whole being a very pleasant piece of work, and faithfully painted. The smaller jar is beautifully rounded up, but the principal vase is very Hat. The peacock feathers are very true to nature. A bold representation of a group of native implements by Miss Buchanan, and the same subject by Miss Cora I'iickey, are well treated. Two pictures of lilies by Miss Cherie Templet' and Miss Mary C. Firth are two other subjects worthy of notice in this section. In Section 5, Study of Flowers or Foliage, there were six entries, and Mr. Robert Pheney is the successful competitor. He shows an excellent piece of work composed of a vase containing pelargoniums, a palette, and other artists' requisites. The palette is excellently foreshortened, and the whole group forms a very taking picture, faithfully painted and harmonious in colour. This work takes the silver modal for the best work in the whole of the competitions. Mr. Phoney has been for some mouths past a pupil of Mr. F. Wright's, and considering that, he has only been receiving tuition for eight months, he has made very great progress, and promises something much better in the future. Resides the silver medal,he also carries away a bronze medal in another competition. Miss Kate Ball takes second certificate with a spray of flowers, nicely treated, and harmonising well with the background. Miss Amy Holland shows a carefully painted group of camellias in this section, but the arrangement is somewhat still', and the green of the leaves too brilliant.

In Class 11., Section (>, Study of Animal Life in any medium, there were not sufficient competitors to admit of the judges making an award, but there were some special features in the work of Miss Edith Kenton which can sod the committee to grant a special certificate. In Section 7, Landscape or Marine Study in Oils, there were ten competitors, the prize winner being Miss B. Cawkwell, her exhibit being a bit of bush scenery thoroughly characteristic of Now Zealand, showing ferns in the foreground. Its main feature is that it shows evidence of having been entirely painted out of doors. Miss Stoddart, of Christchurch, takes second certificate, the subject being a representation of some old cottages, evidently in some quiet little bay about Lyttelton Harbour. There is considerable merit in this little picture. In this section there are also two pictures by Miss Dora Moeson, of Christchurch, one showing a corn field in the foreground, and the other a harbour scene. Miss L. Robinson shows a sunset sketch on tho West Coast about Pi ha.

In Section 8, Landscape or Marine Study in Watercolour, there was but one entry by Miss L. Robinson, and there being no competition no award was made. There being only one entry by Miss M. O. Stoddart in Section 9, for Landscape or Marino Study in Monochrome, no award was made. In Section 10, Study of Native Tree in Oil, Watercolour, or Monochrone, there were six competitors, the prize being awarded to Robert Phoney for three ferns, which are very carefully painted, and bear every evidence of having been painted on the spot. The fronds of the terns an exceedingly well-managed and foreshortened. This work also takes the bronze modal in its class. Muss Stoddart takes second certificate for the upper portion of a black pine. This is a tree not much soon in this part of the colony, but bears evidence of truthfulness to Nature, the light and shade being very well distributed. Miss L. Robinson has a very excellent piece of work in this section, a little creek scene in the bush. It is rather flat, however. In ClasH 111., Pupils' Drawings, Sections 11 and 12, Shade and Outline Drawing from the Model, there is no work of sufficient merit to award a prize. The judge's work is not yet complete in these two sections, so notice of them must be deferred.

In Class IV., Section 14, Design for Decorative Door Panel, six entries, Miss Hose B. Keeping exhibits two panels, one being puriri flowers, painted on puriri background, and the other hoheri flowers, on rewarewa. The former of these takes the prize in this section. This young lady has made considerable progress, and shows much ability in flower painting. The work on tho rewarewa is very line, but the wood is too strongly marked for a suitable background. The second certificate has been awarded to Miss M. 0. tod dart for a most artistic and truthfully-painted group of mountain lilies. Miss Clara Firth has a very nice panel in this section composed of wild convolvulus and common fern, very gracefully and artistically painted. The arrangement is good. In Section 15, Study of New Zealand Foliage in outline and conventionally treated, there wore no entries. In Section 16, Painted Plaque or Vase, there were eight competitors. Mr. C. F. oldie takes first prize for a plaque, with pink and white convolvulus flowers and foliage. It is beautifully painted, and gracefully arranged on a dead gold ground. This is one of the most carefully done bits of flower painting in the Exhibition. Miss Mary C. Firth takes second certificate, with a group of New Zealand clematis. Miss H. Williams, a very young student, has a plaque in this section, comprising red kowhai flowers, gracefully arranged. In Class V., Modelling in Clay or Wax, there were no entries. The photographic Classes VI. and VII. have already been dealt with. In Section 20, Mrs. J. M. Clark's special prize for a Life Study of a Head in oil or water colour, has been won by Mrs. R. C. Parkinson, who has been very successful, as in addition to her prize winning exhibit, a Study of the Head of an Old Man, she takes second position with a Study of a Boy wearing 1 a tarn o' shanter cap. The former

of these is an excellent piece of work, and shows considerable advance on, this lady's previous efforts. Miss Prideaux, wlio was placed third, shows considerable ability in portraiture. Her exhibit is the same subjftct as the one by Mrs. Parkinson, taking second place. In this section Mr. G. E. Whitmore, of Otahuhu, shows a very carefully painted water colour portrait of a lady. It is painted with some ability, but the pose is rather stiff, and the nose is a little out of drawing.