AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTS EXHIBITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10419, 17 April 1897, Page 6

AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTS EXHIBITION.

The exhibition of the Society of Arts wu yesterday well attended both afteroooo and evening, notwithstanding the unfavourable state of the weather. To-day the exhibition will re-open at 12.30 p.m. to 5 p.m., and from 17.30 to 10 p.m. Burke'a orchestra will render iodic choice selections during the evening. THIRD NOTICE.-OILB. We again go back upon the oils, taking one Ecture of each of the artiste whose works ive not yet been reviewed. Mr. M. Trenwith is only represented by one small picture, " Early Morning, Te Kuma Bay." This is a modest little painting, but full of quiet refined quality. The sky and water are harmonious, and the general effect is very pleasing. Miss Maud Vaile 13 still improving, and her work shows a distinct departure from her old style, and we appreciate the chance. "By Still Waters," is a small picture of foliage and water, quiet in colour and harmonious in treatment. Another local artist, Mr. Gregory, is also , much stronger this vear. "Snow-crowned Egmont majestically doth rise," is a very well-known view, and probably the best of the mountain. This is a very ambitious effort and Mr, Gregory has succeeded to a great extent. The composition seems somewhat stiffin places. The line of furze and the pond in the foreground ie sadly wanting in variety and perspective, and the general colour tone ot the picture strikes one as being rather cold, and the foliage lacking in atmosphere and light. The general light and shade of the picture is carefully worked out and shows ability in this direction. In ipiteof these few weaknesses Mr. Gregory has produced a good picture, and we congratulate him on having developed a much greater breadth of treatment than usual. This artist is getting on the right track. Mr. W. A. Bollard exhibits only one work this year, domestic affliction aud bereavement having precluded his giving the necessary time and attention to exhibits for the Society's exhibition. " A Summer Morning" is a title well suggested for the picture. The clouds are just breaking, and there are strong indications of a hot day. The subject is a good one from every point of viewtrees reflected in shallow water, with patches of half-submerged grass and rushes. The horizontal and perpendicular Hues of the construction of the picture are rather prominent, and there is a trace of artificial colouring, probably owing to insufficient opportunities of studying the subject from nature. A closer study will improve some of the tree forms. The horizontal line strikes us as being somewhat hard, and the distant hills flat in the planes. There is a very nice feeling of rest and quiet in the work, and it indicates a marked advance on the previous year, iu the work of this promising young artist. Mr. James Yearbury's most important work this year is entitled" An Old Bush Road." There are some excellent bits of painting in this picture, aud it shows on the whole careful preparation. There seems an absence of wood in some of the trees and a flatness of treatment of the foliage. The perspective of the track is distinctly good, But there is a slight monotony of tone. The stump of tree and neatly sawn section in the right corner are too obvious and trim, and suggest metal instead of wood. Mr. Yearbnry is quite successful in the treatment of the tree ferns introduced. They are treated very suggestively, but are among some of the best bits of the picture. An effective study is Miss Buchanan's " Auckland from Mount Victoria," a hillside with pine trees, and the city showing in the distance, at sunset. We draw Miss Buchanan's attention to the fact that the horizon is running very much down hill, aud rather question the tone of the light behind the cloud —it seems too yellow with the sun at that altitude. The buildings and shipping in the distance are well indicated, and the colouring of the hillside fresh and transparent. Mr. Pheney's " Waitakerei Creek" shows a considerable amount of conscientious work, and a good effect of light and shade. The general treatment indicates care and knowledge of the subject and some considerable power of execution. A glazed rich dark colour over the rocks in the iereground would have added materially to the various planes of the picture, as the foreground scarcely separates itself from the middle distance. The sky and distant sunlit trees are of good tone and quality, but a little more strength in various parts of the picture would certainly have improved it. Two portraits are ehown by Mr. J. E. Bering. The first is that of a lady in black eveniug dress, relieved by a dash of scarlet poppies. The flesh tones in the face are good, and the head has considerable roundness, but we think the bust of the figure is too yellow, and the right arm excessive in muscular development. The yellow tone is probably caused largely by the brilliant solouring of the poppies. The second portrait is that of a gentleman, and we like it the best. It is painted iu a good style, and shows clever workmanship all through. Mrs. Walrond's picture, "A Grey Day," i> a scene probably on a tributary ot the Waikato. The river is winding through marshy ground with native foliage and distant fern-clad hills. The sky could probably have been greatly improved, had it been a tone lighter, better expressing "a grey day" rather than a gloomy one. The edge of the distant hill is unnecessarily hard, but with these exceptions we are very pleased with the work. The artist evidently had the subject well under control. This lady also sends several flower studies, to which we will refer later on.

Miss K. Ellerbeck contributes a picture, entitled "Scene iu North Wales." This is apicture evidently in which the palette knife ha« been employed freely. The result is striking and bold, and shows it good deal of courage on (he part of the artist; a rushing torrent is dashed into foam in the shallows, and again becoming placid as it reaches the deeps. The artist has fallen into the error of using the knife where a brush would have been the better means to have employed. The effect is, as we have said, strong and imimpressive, but the picture is not sufficiently large to admit of the treatment which it has received. The result is paint, pure and simple, and not as it should be, a realisation of »scene in which the medium employed is rendered subservient. MISCELLANEOUS. In the section of painted photographs, Miss H. Stewait holds the pride of place, but Miss A. Silverlock and Miss K. A. Ellerbcck also show some good work. Miss Stuart's exhibits are more numerous than usual, aud consist of a portrait of Mr. Ricnold, the well-known actor, as Henry V., iu bis royal robes. The harmony of colour and the delicacy of treatment are simply perfection, aud show this lady to be tliepreniier photographic colourist of New Zea land, and it is scarcely to be wondered at that some of her work has been brought under the notice of the Queen, and been graciously accepted by Her Majesty. There are portraits of some Maori belles, one of the late Faora Tuhaere, Chief of Orakei, and another of a well-known actress as" Trilby," all possessing the same characteristics of refined taste aud artistic skill iu treatment. There is a very tine collection of photographs, of every t)pe of the photographic irt, exhibited by an English photographic club. They represent the pick of the English establishments, and have gone the round of the Australasian colonies. They are well worth inspection. Mr. Josiah Martin exhibits a frame of his excellent photographs of New Zealand scenery, but it has not yet been placed. Mr. J. S. Barlow exhibits a frame (10) of fine" Photographs of Yachts," the yachts being the Mahaki, Waiwetu, Gloriana, Spray, Waitangi, Moana, Viking, Daisy, Halcyon, and Mizpah. They constitute a fine collection, showing the various yachts named ■tiling on a wind, and as being clear and distinct are eminently satisfactory.