AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTS EXHIBITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10420, 19 April 1897, Page 6

AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTS EXHIBITION.

The exhibition of the Society of Arts at the Choral Hall was well attended on Saturday. In the evening the orchestra of the Auckland College and Grammar School, under the conductorsllip of Mr. Trevithick, furnished the following acceptable programme, which was rendered in a highly creditable manner:—lntermezzo, " May Blossom," W. Weir; musical sketch, " A Plantation Holiday," A. Seibold; serenade, " Stars of Wight," Balfour; Spanish waltz, "Castille," Rose ; cornet solo, " Maid of Athens," H. Robinson j trio, "Ouverture des Marionettes," Gurbet ; gavotte, " Queen Christina," Schmidt; ent'r act, "Le Pointe du Jour." Solomon; inarch, "The Uhlan's Call," Eilenberg. The art union is progressing favourably, and the drawing has been postponed till Monday next, in order to give a longer time to country visitors to the exhibition. The exhibition re-opens to-day at half-past twelve to five p.m., and from half-past seven to ten p.m. To-day we review the pioturcs of the Southern exhibitors not yet noticed. The Southern collection amounts to about 30 pictures, and forms one of the features of the exhibition. The visitors express their satisfaction and pleasure at the public spirit shown by the Southern artists in forwarding their work to Auckland, and also at the quality of their handiwork. SOUTHERN EXHIBITORS.-OILS AND

WATER COLOURS. Mr. W. Hndgkins (president of the Otago Art Society) exhibits several pictures ; oue, entitled "The Gloom of an Alpine Gorge," is a large water colour landscape of a snow-covered mountain rising steep and abrupt from a deep ravine. This work has all the strength and go of an oil, and appears to he the work of a master hand. The vastness and extreme height of the mountain are well indicated. This is a difficulty which always arises in connection with mountainous subjects, but Mr. Hodgkius has been highly successful in this respect. We would have preferred a little more decision in the foreground rocks, but otherwise the picture is a marked success. "The Hour when Daylight Dies" is the name of an exhibit by Mr. G. E. Butler, an artist who contributes several pictures. It is an oil study of waves breaking on a flat beach at sunset. This picture conveys a strong sense of motion, but the water is not as transparent as it should be. The simulation of brilliant dazzling light is too often replaced by a dull, yellow, or grey tone. We are fully aware of the difficulties of painting bright sunlight, and that it is impossible to even more than suggest it. The coloured pigments are inadequate, and it is only possible to convey the merest hint of the splendour and grandeur of God's daylight. Miss Mabel Bill (Wellington) has a large portrait, a study in water colour, a clever piece of work and full of good qualities. The hands seem the least successful part of the picture; but in pose and drawing they are only secondary, and do not worry the rest of the study to any great extent. The technical part of the work is in tho modern water-colour style, plenty of washing aud rubbing until the required effect is obtained. Miss Hill seems to have pretty well avoided the danger of this method— the risk of making mud— to have obtained a considerable subtlety and softness in the handling. The back of the chair is, perhaps, somewhat uufortunately placed, but the portrait as a whole is well.up to Miss Hill's usual standard of excellence. Two landscapes are contributed this year by Mr. L. W. Wilson, both comparatively small and unimportant. The first is entitled " Mount Cook, Hooker Glacier," and is the best. This is a very well-selected view of the well-known mountain. This artist's work is always pleasing, and full of quiet refinement, but we have seen better pictures by this exhibitor than those ou view this year. The second picture, " Head of George Sound," was evidently executed in a violent hurry, but still bears the stamp of a clever artist. Miss M. E. Richardson contributes several exhibits, including a study of flowers. Her portrait in oil of the Hon. E. Richardson, (Canterbury), ex-Minister of Public Works, is a good piece of work. This lady has been highly successful in contributing an excellent likeness of the original, and the pose is easy, and free from the suggestion of sitting for his portrait. The expression rather suggests a friendly chat while the subject was being executed. There is just a. suspicion of patchiness in some of the face colouring, but the effect is only slightly disturbed, and a weakness in the drawing of the right hand, but taken altogether, the portrait is, as we have said, a very good oue, and we speak from a personal acquaintance with Mr. Richardson.

Mr, W, F. Barraud furnishes several exhibits, the best, we think, being "Ou the North Road, Kaikoura." The title scarcely suggests the picture to anyone not familiar with the locality, because, as a matter of fact, it is a bit on the sea beach, with the Kaikouras in the distance. There is is a very fine feeling of atmosphere, and strong evidence of wind in the sky. The rugged mountains fading away into the distance are well managed, andthe horizon nicely melting into the sky, but as we come nearer the foreground there is evidence of indecision in the colour, and the shivering and solitary animal would have been better omitted.