AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTS EXHIBITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10424, 23 April 1897, Page 5

AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTS EXHIBITION.

Thebe was a rery large attendance yesterday afternoon (U the. Art Exhibition of the Auckland Society of Arts, in the Choral Hall, The lady frienda of the Society dispensed "afternoon tea," which wm very much appreciated by the visitors. Iu the evening, the Auckland Orchestral Union, under Conductor Towaey, lield their usual practice. The art union is progressing favourably, and will be drawn on Monday evening next. Today the Exhibition re-opens from half-past twelve to live p.m., and from half-past seven to 10 p.m. .Tuilirc Kontmi's-orchestra will perform some choice musical selections during the evening.

OIL AND WATER COLOURS. Mr. Vyvyiiu Hunt contributes a portrait of Canon Calder. It gives a very fair impression of the original, bat we oanaot see "a speaking likeness." The picture is wanting iu vigour, ami a change of colour in the background would hulp materially. " Lake Omapere," by Miss Oawkwell, is iv careful and painstaking bit of work, but why that ugly tree trunk on the left? E. A. Stuart furnishes a study of onions— an uninteresting subject, but still valuable for the instruction Rive in the art of imitating Nature. The foliage, if one may call it by that name, has tho appearance of being glued on to the background, caused, perhaps, by each spray luviug an unbroken line of shadow.

Miss Clara Firth's painting, "A Misty Morning," is a small picture of meadow and gum trees, nicely suggestive of a damp and misty muning, A little more variation of colour would have helped, and the gum trees require gradation. Surely the mist would have made itself visible here also, and caused more greenness in the farther trees? " A Greek Girl," by Mies May Henderson, ia a somewhat ambitious study of a lady in profile, iu Greek costume. We are always pleased to see our youug artists endeavouring to strike out a line away irom the conventional, and that was evidently this artist's intention, only frustrated by insufficient knowledge. The drapery on the right shoulder requires lowering in tone, as at the present time it is ou the same plane as the nearer shoulder.

Miss AliceFullwell's " Maraetai, Wairoa," is a nice artiatio little bit on the river. The picture is weak, consequent on some of the drawing not having received sufficient attention, " Darling Harbour, Sydney," by E, A, Aspinnll, does not strike us as being quite true to Nature in the colouring, although giving a fair idea of the scenery at Sydney Harbqur. Miss Woodward sends one email and unpretentious picture of & typioal New Zealand settlor's homestead. Money is evidently not plentiful in the case of this particular settler, aa he would not have permitted his cottage to have been so much out of drawing, but of course this ia really the condition (hat artists appreciate most, The picture altogether is pleasing. Experience will .rectify the weaknesses. Miss Bessie Blomrield baa a study of primula growing in pot, with tree pot lying on its side containing violets. The latter is the weak spot in an otherwise oireful piece of work. The background requires more variation, " Stewart's Island," by Mrs. Whetter, is a small oil, giving a very fair idea of the country, but the picture requires more attention in the details, A number of the water colours are still unnoticed, and we select a few.

Miss Ethel M. Baker contributes three exhibits. The first is entitled. "Old Boatshed, MauuUiiu." A fresh little picture and nicely Vringecj, bat there is an indecision in parts, notably the shipping and the ( way. tome of the vessels are placed on the water. One of the boats appears to be climbing a huge wave. A second work by this lady is a " Sketch at Manukwi," whioh has much the same general characteristics. The third exhibit is " Scene in the VVairarapa." This is certainly her best work— bush clearing with distant ranges, under a grey sky; a rough sort of homestead and figures introduced add greatly to the general interest. "Rangitoto Channel," by Mrs. Archie Clark, is a view of a well-known mountain, with shipping coming up channel under the influence of a fresh north-easter, and waves breaking on the beach in the foreground, This is a very Rood piece of work, and there was no necessity to make the siguaso small and unobtrusive, as the picture is quite worthy of the artist. Mr». Corbett has a carefully worked out study of t;orse, but we question the advisability of introducing the dog, as it serves no good purpose. The colour of the track seems too cold. This lady also contributes a number of sketches taken direct from Nature, on the West Const, and the interior of a Maori hut. Miss C. W. Home exhibits a frame containing two water-colour sketches. They are Well worth inspection.' The title leaves us in doubt as to the place, but the work shows ability.,' " /": ' Miss M. Hnrne furnishes a picture entitled " Ohiesa di s Ercalano, Perugia." This is a street scene in Italy, which well suggests the flue old buildings and general characteristics of the colour and architecture, - ; " >■ . '■'«