AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9139, 4 March 1893, Page 5

AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTS

ANNUAL EXHIBITION. THIRD NOTICE. The Art Exhibition in the Choral Hall was open again yesterday afte moon and evening, and was well attended, the interest of connoisseurs and others appearing to increase as greater opportunities are afforded for studying the pictures. The opinion at first formed still prevails that in point of meritorious work the exhibition is greatly bettor than any previously held in Auckland. Afternoon tea was served, and in the evening Mr. Impoy's fine string and wood wind band nlayod a number of choice musical selections. The exhibition will be open this afternoon, and in the evening up to ten o'clock, and amongst other attractions a limelight view of New Zealand scenery will be exhibited, under the auspices of the Photographic Club.

THE PICTURES ON EXHIBITION. We continue our notices of the pictures on exhibition, following out the course of ignoring the order of the catalogue, and as nearly as possible following up tho exhibits of individual artists. Miss E. G. Prideaux has a good many meritorious exhibits 011 display. One of these is " The Head of a Young Man, Old English Costume." The face is well formed, and the picture is a very fine, harmonious niece of colouring, the handling showing a Knowledge of the subject, and the .flesh tones are very natural. " Alcase" is by the same lady, and the remarks as to the other picture apply. As indicated by the name it is a female face ( and the white ruff around the neck is very nicely handled. The face is well thrown up by tho introduction of dark drapery, which has a very charming effect. The technique of the picture is clever. " A Portrait of a Boy," by Miss Prideaux, although of more recent date than the other studies referred to, is not equal to them in point of merit, although it possesses some rood qualities. There is a flatness about the features which is perceptibly apparent, and which deteriorates from the sraneral effect

Miss Prideaux also exhibits " In the Old Orchard." She is not quiVe so successful in landscape as in figure, but tho picture possesses some good qualities, and the peach tree on the left in the distance is successfully shown.

"On the Kukahu, Canterbury," is another of this lady's pictures. There is good suggestion about the work, and the water is very transparent, but had the distance been_ kept back more the general effect of the picture would have been much better.

Mr. Thomas Bull has a number of pictures on view, and they are all meritorious. _ " The Kaimatura Gorge" is one of those pictures which always possess interest. It is a creek scene. In its production Mr. Ball is hardly so strong as usual, but although he has several good pictures on exhibition this, we believe, we liked best. The scene is after rain, the mist just lifting off the mountains, and Mr. Ball has been most successful in his suggestions of water in the whole picture. A few cows are to be seen wandering down a track, and add interest t) the work. In the foreground, indeed, Mr. Ball lias rather excelled himself, the introduction of some native shrubs bains very effective. "At Hunua," by the same artist, is a characteristic piece of bush and creek scenery, and it is a picture which possesses some excellent work, the tree ferns being very nicely drawn and well coloured. The indication of sunlight in the distance is effective, and the picture is typical throughout of the features of the scenery produced. In " On the Wh.vuwhau," Whangarei, Mr. Ball preserves features very similar to those already described, and the remarks already made generally apply. In this picture, however, the foliage is unusually good, and Mr Ball shows to better advantage than in mont of his sylvan pictures, and he shows some really nice suggestive bits of scenery and effect.

" A NVaikato Stream " preserves the artist's features, being mostly in the same style as his other pictures, including in this instance cascade and rocky foreground. The tumbling water is w ell delineated, and the rustic bridge is a good feature. Mr. Ball exhibits a number of other works, but we must reserve notice of them for a future occasion. ' Mr. C. Blomiield has been from the first one of the most consistent supporters ot the Society, and he is always a prominent exhibitor, and we are glad to find his works 011 this occasion occupying a promiueut position. His most prominent picture, as well as his largest 011 this occasion, is "The Governor's Farewell," a stirring and finished reminiscence of the final departure of the Earl of Onslow, late Governor of New Zealand, from Auckland harbour. The view is from Albert Park. There is some originality in the selection of this point of view, and the flower bed and foliage make a good foreground. The sky is bright and clear, and the whole aspect bears a summer look, whilo the yachts ou the water have a sparkling and animated effect as the flotilla Bails round and surrounds the steamer which i* bearing Lord and Lady Onslow away from New Zealand. The natural and effective whole might well compensate for deficiencies in small details, such as the stiffness of the pine tree on the right, but Mr. Blomfield has reproduced a brilliant scene, which is still lresh in the memories of Auckland people. "Auckland Harbour from Remuera " is another of Mr. Blotnfieid's exhibits. This is a wall-known subject, and one often chosen to display the beauties of the Auckland harbour and its outlying islands, and Mr, Blomfield has been very happy in his subject, for ho has chosen it to delineate an effect which is highly suitable to all the surroundings. The sun is just setting, and casts a warm glow over the whole landscape, and Hangitoto is just tipped by the rays of the netting sun. The foreground consists of foliage, native and English trees, and two residences ot the merchants of Auckland surrounded by trees, show out on the right and left respectively. The tone of the foreground has a good effect on the distance by throwing it well back, and the picture is undoubtedly a popular rendering of the subject. " Inangahua River, near the Bailer June tion," is also one of Mr. Blotnfieid's exhibits ; but he is not quite so successful in this as in the others alluded to above. The execution appears to be too hurried, and although the subject is a good one it cannot be said to be in Mr. Blomfield's best style. " Totara River, Weatland, near Mount Cook," is another of Mr. Blomfield's studies. This possesses some recommendations and faults. There is a alight blackness about the whole picture, and altogether an objectionable feature of what might be called a machine style of painting. "Mount Cook from the West" exhibits Mr. Blomfield as an artist in a much more favourable light. It is much bettor in colouring, and the distance showing the grand mountain, is very nicely treated, but the foreground is somewhat imperfect. In yesterday's issue the authorship of the picture " Shellfish" (120), which took the Society's silver medal, was inadvertently attributed to Mr. J. W. Crowther. It is a water-colour painting by Mr. Edwin Bartley, and it richly deserved the award, for it contains excellent work, and the whole picture is in a fine broad style