AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTS EXHIBITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10417, 15 April 1897, Page 6

AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTS EXHIBITION.

» THE OPENING CONVERSAZIONE. The exhibition of the Auckland Society of Arts was formally opened last evening by a conversazione of members and friends in the Choral hall. At eight o'clock there was gathered together, notwithstanding counter attractions elsewhere, a large assemblage of ladies and gentlemen. Mr. E. W. Payton (president of the Society) mounted the rostrum. He said my remarks will be brief, but I desire to make au explanation on behalf of the committee, which is deemed essential. The .exhibits by the Southern artists arrived two days too late, and the whole of the walls of the hall were filled up when they arrived. There was no time left to re-arrange the pictures, and therefore the Southern collection had to be put iu the annexe. The committee regretted this, though they could not accept responsibility for the tardy arrival of the exhibits, as they would have had great pleasure in placing the Southern pictures in the best part of the hall. Both in quantity and quality, the work sept by the Southern artists exceeded anything in previous exhibitions. I have great pleasure now in calling upon Mr. J. H. Upton (a patron of the Society) to open the exhibition with a few remarks.

Mr. Uptos said: Ladies and gentlemen, at the request of the Auckland Society of Arts made to me through its president, Mr. Payton, I have very great pleasure in performing the duty assigned to me. Since Mr. Piyton asked me to do this I have wondered a good deal why he did not do so himself, as his remarks upon the exhibition would have been much more valuable as regards art than I can hope mine will be. It is often asked, What is the good of paintiog, and what is art? That question has been often asked, but rarely satisfactorily answered, and perhaps never in a short space of time, but it seems to me that the function ot the artist is to reveal to us the beauties of nature which surround us, and which are hidden from those of us who have not the advantage of that insight, the result of artistic training. On the walls of this hall you will find many illustrations of this truth. Scenes familiar enough to us in the prosaic everyday aspect, are made to reveal the charm which h only possible to those who have the trained mind. I have very great pleasure in saying that I think in my humble way that the present exhibition is a great advance on those nf previous years. There is a complete absence of anything which can be regarded a.s bizarre. 1 am satisfied that the exhibition affords, not only to the members of the Auckland Society of Arts, but also to the public of Auckland, the assurance of greater advancement in the future. There is one matter which I ought to mention. You are aware that the Auckland Society of Arts have offered prizes to youug students to encourage them in the study of art. Heretofore the prizes have been awarded by the committee of the Society as themselves teachers. Their awards have not been free from the possible dangers of favouritism. No doubt any such charge would be very uujust, but the Society this year have made / the thought of any such thing impossible by sending the whole of the competitive works to a well-known artist in the South, who has made the awards. You, ladies and gentlemen, will be able to judge whether the awards are such as will commend themselves to your ideas of the fitness of things. I have now very great pleasure iD offering my congratulations, in which I am sure you join, to the Society on this very successful exhibition, and in doing so have also the pleasure to declare the exhibition open. (Cheers.) The hall presented a very fine spectacle. The rostrum was decorated with line pot plants, kindly lent from Government House (by the Acting-Governor, Sir James Prendergast), and hanging baskets of ferns were distributed throughout the hall. The fountain stocked with goldfish and carp was in full play, tne jets of water assuming the form of the Prince nf Wales' feathers. During the day the missing pictures belonging to Miss Joel, of Dunedin, came to hand. " Someone had blundered," and had woke up through the references to the misadventure in the columns ot the Herald. After lying in an Auckland store durine the past ten daya, the pictures were sent to their destination at the Choral Hall yesterday, greatly to the surprise and delight of the fair artist, ami the satisfaction of the committee.

Burke's string band rendered the following musical selections at intervals during the evening: •— March, " Exhibition ;" waltz, " Gaiety Girl :" selection, " Mascotte ;" polka, " Jap ;" intermezzo, " Clarine ;' selection, " Fnust Up ■to ••Date ;" waltz, "Acclamation." The Exhibition will re-open to-day from half-past twelve to five, and from half-past seven to ten p.m. OILS.-FIRST NOTICE. In accordance with our usual custom we select a single picture by each of the various leading artists for notice, going back on their other works at n, later date, as space and opportunity will permit. Mr. E. W. Pay ton (President of the Society) is well represented this season. Of the landscapes hie tiue picture, " Ohinemutu, Rotorua," wll probably attract most attention on first; entering the room. It is a broadly painted picture of a well-known scene familiar to tourists, Ohitiemutn Point, with the church of St. Faith, the native settlement, the lovely lake beyond, the island of Mokoia in the distance, and the ranges behind the Nftae. It is ably handled, and there is plenty of atmosphere and "go" gen«ally in it. The perspectives are well indicated. The hot aprincs, with steam rising, is very realistic, and the lake painted in a very beautiful cool tone. The necessary life is put iu with the aid of natives bathing on the shore, moving about in their canoes, and a steam launch, the pioneer of modern civilisation, is to be seen steaming between the mainland and the famous island of Mokoia. The accessories of native huts and cultivations all add to the beauty and effectiveness of a charming landscape, which fully sustaius Mr. Payton's reputation for artistic taste and skill. Another local artist, who is a good contributor, is Mr. Frank Wright. His work is always acceptable, either in oil or watercolour, and worthy of his brush as paiustakine conscientious work. His painting entitled "An Autumn Morning," is a typical piece of river ecenery-a native village and a group of figures squatted rodnd a fire, on the banks of a stream. The artist hae evidently tried for something fresh and new in the way of an effect. A soft haze runs rll through the picture. The water is extremely well handled, and the distant foliage finely indicated, with just sufficient detail in the nearer foliage to give distance its true value. There is a marked change of style in this artist's pictures this year, and we must say we like it. although there are times when a soupgou of additional strength in places might improve the picture still further. He is well represented by a number of other exhibits both in oil and watercolours.

Mr. T. L. Drmnmond has several exhibits and is a valued exhibitor at the Society's act exhibitions. His canvasses are not so large this season as they have been in former yesrs, neither are his pictures so striking. His best ia a study of native boih, with creek, and cattle browsing on its banks. Rocks ana native grasses in the foreground add to the power of the picture, and provide the necessary deep shadows. The painting is a raid-day effect, with a good deal of strong light in the sky. The native bush on either Bide of the stream is well lit, and the effect is greatly heightened by some lighter foliage coming immediately in front, adding considerably to the effect of the picture. The water is painted in his well-known careful and painstaking style, although perhaps just a trifle patchy. The reflections in the water are not so carefully treated as usual. The perspective of the distent ranges is good, and the colour pleasant.

Mr.Gibb.the well-known Southern painter, the Auckland public will be glad to note, has ■" 5 ,7 0 « ag»in on the walls of the Choral mil. his leading exhibit is entitled, Among the Reefs, Kaikoura," bat though » bold and ambitious work, is scarcely up to his usually excellent standard. It is a strong subject boldlv painted. In. the right foreground, ire the towerine headlandi of the coast line, and on the left foreground and in the middle distance the jagged, serrated reefs, and oceau-scarred groups 6f rocks (with seaweed clinging to their base), over which the advancing waves are daahing, and dissipating themselves in sheets of seething foam. Toe broken water »losgthe coastline and the

majestic movement of the billow. i« ~. -1 ' deeper water beyond, suggest "d MD Sir ' unto deep." There is great depth ft picture, and the distant coastline tJ* away, strengthens that impression t? headland is characteristic of theSouth'lil.J? • The water in the right foreground poS a good deal of dash and motion, 'andlt?* parency, but in the left foregrounda' : water" scarcely has the same du£eb? i istics, being somewhat hard and frozen £ cloud shadows on the water give a en!,* } , 8 of strong light and shadow. A band offi I in the middle di.tance Mps to indicate rt ;;; various planes ol the water. The pSI has a pleasant effect, and is without H-S the leading seascape iu the exhibition at at once arrests the attention of the visit," 1 1 entenuf: the hall. ' wroll Mr. J. p. Perritt's largest canvM. fl " Evening in the Hooker Valley" his , -> hibits being principally of Southern Aloli or lake scenery, of which in the past he £1 ? ' shown so many excellent examples j£ subject is backed by the "everlastin hill,i with a mass of folhge in the middle distant ; and broken boulders in the foreground' It is an evening effect, and the effen of fading light on the distant momN tains is very good, and probably the best to* of painting in the picture. The depth of th, 1 valley at the base of the great ranges is «It J suggested, but the boulders in the foreground * lack the quality ot hardness, and art tw blue in tone and uniform in structure Ii : may be realistic, but the artist is entitled to artistic license to complete the harmonT* '■ his composition. J * , We are glad to welcome Signor Nerli as i valued accession to Auckland art circle He contributes a series of portraits which stamp him at once as an artist of excellent reputation in that branch of art. His best exhibit is" A Lady in Green," painted in 1 fine bold style ami well drawn and handled. The pose of the figure is artistic, the flal tints soft and transparent, the expression the face good, and the hair well indicated, The drapery and background are kept tuffi". ciently subservient to enhance the value ol the face, and the general effect is harmonioni and striking. Signor Nerli shows in thji portrait what he is capable of accompliihjn, and with that specimen of his skill in e ,£ dence there is no necessity to go out ofAuct land in search of excellent portraiture. Mr. L. J. Steele has not done justice to him. •elf in only furnishing a single exhibit to the Exhibition, though that exhibit is very acceptable. His contribution is a large portrait of the Primate of New Zealand (Bishop, - : Cowie), and the result is an excellent likeuea ! of th»t well-known prelate. The pote ii , natural, and the light and shade strongly ■ effective. There is excellent work in the hands aud face, but the painting ol the hair is somewhat uneven, tot beard being slightly stiff, possibly owb. to the method ot painting. The acceiionei ' add to the effectiveness of the portrait, anj are subordinate to the general effect desired. Mr. Steele is one of our best portrait painters, and it is gratifying to see thtl branch of art so ably represented this eeaion. Miss Joel, of Dunedin, whose figure studies attracted some attention at last year's exhibition, is represented this time by three exhibits, of which the best is "A Bo* Midst Poppies." It illustrates a young girl smiling through a perfect bower of glowing poppies in sunlight. The upper part of the face is in shadow caused by the hat. In the lower part the rich colour is enhanced b; the shining sunlight and atmosphere. Oat hand is pushing back the poppies as they impede her progress. The idea is original, and as in all her we rk the colour is rich and harmonious.