AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTS EXHIBITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10418, 16 April 1897, Page 5

AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTS EXHIBITION.

The exhibition of the Auckland Society of Arts was well attended yesterday afternoon and evening, notwithstanding the unfavourable character of the weather. The Auckland Orchestral Union, under the conductorship of Mr. Towsey, had its usual practice last everting, so th?t the visitors had the opportunity of heariug the excellent pieces in rehearsal. It will be seen by advertisement elsewhere that the exhibition will be open throughout the whole of the holidays-to-day from 12.30 to 5 and 7.30 to 10 p.m., and at the same hours on each succeeding day, save Tuesday evening. The art union in connection with the exhibition will be drawn on Thursday evening next, the tickots being fe6d each. SECOND NOTICE.-WATER COLOURS AND OILS. We propose now to deal with the water colour section, taking a few of the principal works. Mr. F. Wright is well represented. "Clearing after Rain" his largest contribution in that medium. Tho picture is treated in a simple and unassuming style. There is no attempt to seek after any effect that an oil medium renders much better. Tho picture is just water colour, with all the delicacy and artistic treatment that water colours can give. Although Mr. Wright is more strongly represented in oil, we are pleased to see that he his not forgotten his early lovewater colours. The picture illustrates a pretty little bit on the Waipa. A range of hills with the mists lazily creeping up the sides, a river slowly flowing along, the surface just broken by eddies; a bit of broken lank with willow trees, in a colour scheme of soft pearly (greys relieved by a touch of rich brown at the base of the willow tree. This picture is a decided success, finely realised, and refreshing to look upon. " Idlers" is the title of one of Mr. E. W. Payton's best water colours. It is a bit of river with a native village on the bunk, and two girls in a canoe. The title is a happy one. The whole atmosphere and feeling of the picture suggests just "doing nothing." A quiet summer evening sun has just set and an air of quietness overhangs everything. The treatment of the picture is delicate and highly artistic, the distant hills strengthening, from a faint haze, and forming an effective background to the main incident of the picture. The treatment of the work is bold and effective, just a touch of dark here and there to give the half tones their true value. The light and shade are well balanced, and the general scheme of colour quiet and harmonious. The delicate tones probably suffer from coining in contact with other pictures, hut it will hold its own, and will prove a charming addition to any collection. Mr, Tnos, Ball is wll represented this year. The one we like best is " Kaimatura Gorge," It is a study of creek and boulders, with precipitous and partially wooded cliffs, rising abruptly from the stream. The effect is probably early morning or after rain, when the mists are just clearing. Scraps of loose cloud serve to break the edges of the mountains in the manner artists love so well. The picturo carries well, and the touches are forcible and effective. The hits of windblown trees are very well put in, especially the bit on the left. There is just a slight danger of blackness in parts, and some of the forms are rather cut up with white lights, but these things detract but slightly from the goneral effect. The water flowing down tho glen is rich and transparent, a few bubbles floating on the surface add a strong touch of realism. This is probably the best water colour by Mr. Ball we have seen, " Rita" is tho title of the only picture exhibited by Signor Nerli, in this fascinating medium. It is a study of a laughing girl, surrounded by a decorative background, suggesting rosebuds and pansies. The treatment is, moreover, suggestive rather than realised. He has succeeded admirably in conveying an impression of lightness and vivacity. The hair is the least satisfactory, and a few cooler greys would have added greatly to the value of the rosy tones of the face.

Of the Southern exhibitors the most prominent is Mr. J. M. Nairn, a Wellington artist, whoso portrait of Mr. D. M. Luckie, of that city, is a highly meritorious production, It is an excellent study painted in suitable tones. Although possessing admirable qualities of drawing and Imudling, there seems an absence of illumination. The work is undoubtedly that of a talented artist, and possesses all the characteristics of the Glasgow school. The likeness is a speaking one, and the pose distinctive and specially characteristic of the man. The drapery and accessories are comparatively unimportant, but still carefully treated. As the portrait of a well-known Wellington Government official, it may be regarded as a most successful one. and places Mr. Nairn high up in the list of our colonial portrait painters. Miss Mabel Hill (Wellington) contributes sovoral portraits, the most important being "ALady in White"—a water-colour study of a very charming lady. It is a fine piece ot work broadly treated, This picture possesses most of the characteristics of the modern wator-colour school. The flesh tints are cloau and transparent, and the drapery and flowers well keep their places. vVe should have preferred a little more decision in the puff sleeves, there being probably a trace of woolliness in parts, but otherwise is very clever. The expression of the face is a very pleasing one, and the lady is evidently quite up-to-date. A Southern lady. Miss May Lingard (Wellington), furnishes a portrait of a little girl (oil). The pose is simple and childlike. It is painted in a harmony of browns and greys. There is some very nice work in the face, looking soft and of good quality. The hair is well brushed in, and the hands have just sufficient detail to be interesting. This is the first time we have seon Miss Lingard's work, and she is a decided acquisition to the list of exhibitors for this vear. Miss F. M. Hodgkins also hails from the South, being an Invercaigill artist. Her wator-colour entitled "Brown Eyes" is a veritable little gem, painted in a blotty style, very broad and effective. The picture is quite a small thing, but contains a large amount of good work in a limited spaoe. The colour scheme is artistic, the few tones of the background helping the face wonderfully. One of the most important branches of landscape art is that of descriptive or illustrative painting. Taking the place of portraiture in figure-painting it aims to represent the picturesque features of a country in a truthful as well as artistic manner. Mr. BlomHeld's paintings are of this olass. The two most important works out of the four he has sent in this year are scenes in the neighbourhood of Lake Whakatipu (Otago). The larger one, entitled "A Glimpse of Paradise," is a peep at one of the gem-like lakes so much admired by visitors to the South, Diamond Lake nestles under the shadow of Mount Earnslaw, the monarch of Lake Whakatipu, the road skirts the base of the mountain. A long avenue of beautiful birch trees, with beautiful peeps here and there of the lake and the magnificent alpine scenery beyond, complete a descriptive picture of alpine scenery.