AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTS EXHIBITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10423, 22 April 1897, Page 6

AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTS EXHIBITION.

The Society [of Arts Exhibition was well attended yesterday afternoon and evening, considering the numerous counter attractions. In the evening Burke's string band performed the following selections, with great acceptance ; — March,. " Exhibition_ selection, "Gay Parisienne'waltz, "Geisha;" mazurka Russe, "La Czarinapolka, "Shop Grirl;" waltz, " Acclamation' selection, "Gondoliers;" march, "Parade;" gavotte, "Zanette;" galop, " Pick Me Up." The exhibition will re-open to-day, at 12.30 to 5 p.m. The lady friends of the Society will dispense "afternoon tea." In the evening the Auckland Orchestral Union, under the conductorship of Mr. Towsey, will hold it* practice, so that the visitors in the evening will have the opportunity, in addition to inspecting the pictures, of listening to the rehearsal of .the orchestral selections. Continuing the review of the pictures, we select some more oil and water colours, and also notice the Society's competitions. OILS AND WATER COLOURS. Miss Pitcher exhibits a study of roses in a basket resting on a marble slab. The composition strikes us as being the weakest point of the picture, and the dark shadow in the background is not sufficiently accounted for. The painting of the flowers themselves shows ability in dealing with a very difficult subject. Miss Pilcher also sends a landscape in oil. "Calm Evening, Port Fitzroy." It depicts a well-known bay in the Great Barrier Island. Here, again, we find fault with the composition. The large tree introduced only serves to crowd up the picture, and does no good. Another exhibit by this artist is a water-colour, "On the coast of Omare." This is undoubtedly her best, and shows more grip fit the subject. "Sunlit Snow, Mount Egmont, from Stratford," by Mr. B. KcKerras, is the only exhibit by this young artist It is well up to his standard, and with study and perseverance he should in future show improved work. A study of anemones, with a lincustra background, is contributed by Miss F. Johnston. There are evidences of careful work in this picture, but the study is rather weak in light and shade, and it teems to want another object introduced to complete the composition. A study of lilacs, by the same artist is, in some respects, the better of the two, but the same general remarks apply here also. Miss Jane Eyrefurnishes a portrait of a Maori girl. The artist was ill-advised in the execution of this work. There is a strong suggestion of an example of the restorer's art in which one side only of the pot trait has been restored, the other side being left untouched. Miss Eyre also shows a study of clematis on a panel. Miss E. F. Gorrii sends one small picture, a study really of primroses and violets, a combination which is always pleasing. This artist has been successful in the general management of the study, but there is a slight hardness about some of the flowers. A little more careful blending of the paint in the edges would have obviated this. We now, propose to take a few of the prize works in

THE SOCIETY'S COMPETITIONS. The first prize, (till life, in oil, is by Miss A. L. Rhodes, a study of oranges in an island basket, with gourd iu background. This work shows considerable promise. The only defects are those of insufficient training. The first award for a sketch direct from nature is one by Miss R. L. Bull. The sketch is a good one, and bears the stamp ot having been painted outside, and this lady has reproduced the sketch on a larger scale. The work hangs in another part of the Exhibition. The still life competition, unfortunately, did not receive sufficient entries. This was especially hard on one of the competitors, who exhibits a very fine study of Japanese objects. The work in this is of a very high standard of excellence, aud it is to be regretted that the judges did not see fit to make a special award: The first award for Mr. Brett's special, prize, illustrating the word "Calm" wis gained by T. Leedliam for a subject " Off Freeman's Bay at Low Tide," showing the timber mills on the foreshore, some shipping with sails hoisted, and logs in the foreground. There are indications of conscientious work. We hope to see this artist's work again. The studies from the antique are scarcely up to the standard of previous years, but there is some good work in the prize studies.. A large picture, black and white grapes, entered in one of the competitions, calls for special notice. There is a considerable amount of courage shown in taking up this fruit on such a large scale, and we may say that a large measure of success has been attained. The effect of the work is bold and striking in the extreme. The group is well ronnded, the near grapes coming well forward. . One or two of the leaves and stems of the bunches might have received a little more attention 'with- advantage, but taken altogether the picture shows clever work. A study of fish (schnapper) with native basket and fishing-line is another of the competition works, and shows skill on the part of the artist, but with faults which will easily be remedied by more knowledge, to be gained only by close application.