AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTS EXHIBITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10421, 20 April 1897, Page 6

AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTS EXHIBITION.

The exhibition of the Society of Arts was yesterday especially well attended in the afternoon, and fairly in the evening, notwithstanding various counter attractions. It will re-open to-day at 12.30 to 5 p.m., but will be closed In the evening owing to the Choral Society's practice. On Thursday afternoon the lady friends of the Society will dispense afternoon tea. FIFTH NOTICE.—OILS. Mr. Seddon Wildeblood contributes two exhibits. The first is, "Buffalo Creek, Coromandel." His work seems rather flat in perspective, there being no visible way out of the picture. There are some nice bits of colouring iu the work, but their structure is too woolly, and wanting in decision in drawing. " Harvesting at Pukekohe,' by the same artist, is much better, and the. principal details are more carefully studied and better drawn. The subject is a good one, though slightly hackneyed. The figure on top of the load is not in proportion to the other figures being too laree, and the shadows of the pine trees are too hot in tone. "At Haarlem" is the title of Mr. A. Montague's exhibit. This artist is evidently an admirer of the old school, judging by the method of painting. This picture is a study of fine artistic old shipping and buildings coming down to the water's edge. A few figures introduced lend additional interest to the work. There is a good deal of care and attention to details shown, and the tones are kept fresh and clean. Miss R. L. Bull sends several works, the most important being " Ocean Beach, Manly, N.S.W." The original sketch of this hangs in another part of the exhibition, Miss Bull has taken but little liberty with the subject in reproducing it on a larger scale. There are evident traces of the influeuce of a wellknown Sydney artist. The bit selected gives a good idea of the peculiarities of the Australian coast—a piece of cliff of remarkable formation, with breaking waves in the middle distance, and sand hills and rushes in the foreground. There is a nice effect of light and air in the picture, but the cast shadows are too blue, making the subject appear excessively cold. The tufts of grass are not growing in the sand, but resting 011 the surface. This fault could be easily remedied by a little more softness ac the junction of the grass and sand. The work promises well for the future. Mis; '■Bull also shows an artistically arranged stud/ of chrysanthemums. The grouping is, however, wanting in roundness, but the work is painted in a good broad style. A panel of iris is much better. The flowers are nicely suggested, and the background tones well harmonised. Mrs. Whitney furnishes two exhibits. The first is a study of Highland sheep among rocks. There it an indecision of attack in the painting of the sheep, but the suggestion of a coming storm js very realistic, The second exhibit is entitled " Loch Nan Ella, or Lake of the Swan." This picture has a number of good points, and the effect of light on the water is carefully worked out. The picture seems most wanting in vigour and strength of light and shade. Miss Jessie H. Wiseman contributes a picture entitled " Mount Egmont"—an evening effect— sun catching the objects in the upper part of the picture, the mountain iu the distance, and a bush clearing in the foreground. This artist possesses a good style, but there is a looseness of handling in the tree trunks thatjmight be improved upon, but the picture, on the whole, gives promise of future excellence. Mrs, F. Luard Wright is represented by several oils, all studies of creek scenery, "Creek at Bombay" being, perhaps, the best. The stream strikes us as being somewhat dark in colour, and would be better if slightly modified as the water gets further away. The rich transparent colour is of great assistance to the picture but it is rather overdone. " Slippery Creek at Ramarama" is more striking, and perhaps a more successful picture than the one previously noticed. It is a typical New Zealand creek, with waterfall and broadly painted tree-fern. " A Creek, Ramarama" is another study giving indications of good material obtainable in this creek, and quite equal in merit to the other.