AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTS EXHIBITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10426, 26 April 1897, Page 3

AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTS EXHIBITION.

Os Saturday there was a good attendance afternoon and evening, at the Art Exhibition in the Choral Hall. Burke's band in the evening played a number of choice selections. The Art Union drawing will take place this evening, under proper supervision, as in former years. The tickets are in good demand, and the holders of prize numbers will have a larger field of selection from which to take their prizes than for many years past. Returning to a number of excellent pictures which have not bceu noticed hitherto, we continue our art notes.

OILS AND WATER COLOURS. "Evening, Auckland Harbour," by Mr. John Gibb, is a view taken of Mechanics Bay, with buildings to the east of the Railway Wharf, Kauri Point, and the upper part of the waters of the Waitemata in the distance. The picture is executed iu Mr. Gibb's usual style. It is not so successful as his second exhibit, "Pompey's Pillar, near Akaroa Heads," in which we recognise some familiar work, although not perhaps up to the artist's standard of previous years. Of Siguor Nerli's works previously unnoticed No. 80, a study, seems to be next in importance. We have not the pleasure of acquaintance with the original, so cannot jnuge of the fidelity of the portrait, but the work itself is distinctly good. The hair is divided in that sort of graceful disorder artists love. The colouring of the hair is perhaps the least successful. It seems to want light and richness. "The Blue Bonnet" is a pretty little laughing girl, in a sunbonnet and pink frock, with foliage background— a brilliant bit of colouring, and rather rough on the other pictures surrounding it. The sunlight is finely suggested. Siguor Nerli's " Ruby" is not nearly so successful. The flesh colouring is weak in comparison to the other portraits, and the hair and flowers too fuzzy. In No. 40, "May," the artist again does credit to himself; but is not that bit of ribbon in the hair rather obtrusive? "Near the Postmaster's Bath, Rotorua," is a small landscape iu the Hot Lake district, very pleasing and full of good work. "In a Garden" is a little girl coming down a flight of steps surrounded by flowers and foliage. The picture is printed iu the style of the Impressionist school, and requires to be properly focussed to see it at its best. " Lake Rotorua" is a very strong bit, almost too strong for its size, but a solid attempt to represent Nature as the artist saw it. " Maori Heads, from life," are not so successful. The lady is the better of the two. The old man was evidently a snapshot, and as such must be criticised. We scarcely recognise Signor Nerli's work in this exhibit. The tatooing and the colouring seem defective. It is a portrait of an old Rotorua chief, a survivor of the Mokoia massacre two generations ago. Mr, Payton is well up to his usual standard though somewhat uneven, but that is principally a matter of selection after all. "The Wharcpuni" is a sunset picture with native house surrounded by trees on the bank of the river. The effect of the 'picture is bold and striking. The sky is well illuminated. It is really surprising the amount of light there is in this sky, no doubt the result of contrast. There is but little trace of experiment in Mr. Payton'swork. Thereisgenerallyapretty definite idea of the desired effect, and the shortest possible cut is taken to arrive there. The invariably result is a clean and fresh picture —without any suggestion of struggle or overwork—and some ideas remaining for the next. " Moroa Plains" is a study of flat land with distant hills and pools of water in foreground, and some trees in the middle distance. This is somewhat of a departure from his usual style. No. 20," After Rain," is a stream coming down from the mountain, with bills rising in the middle distance, partially covered with mist. _ This is a good picture, both in composition and colour. 'The Top of the Aratiatia Rapids, Tango,'' gives a fair idea of water in rapid motion, and an excellent impression of these comparatively little kuowu rapids. "Te Awahou" is a favourite subject in which Mr. Pay ton fairly revels. Given a quiet river, with native village, and a few figures, and the artist is thoroughly at home. He invariably contrives to produce a pleasing picture out of simple materials. "At Tokami" is another river bit at sunset, quiet and refined in feeling. " A Tidal River" is a view taken from an elevation, the river winding round the base of the hills, and cabbage trees and other foliage in the foreground. It is painted in a similar scheme of colour to the last picture noticed, "Morning Mists, Wairarapa Plains"(watercolour), is a bush clearing with cattle, mists rising trom the ground. This picture is not quite so successful as some others by this artist.

Mr. F. Wright has a number of good pictures still unnoticed, "On the Coast" is a study of pohntukawas, with cattle on the sea beach, the tide coming in and the water running into shallow pools. The picture is painted in a light key, but strong enough to make itself visible in the Exhibition. We do not recollect any of this artist's previous work, iu oil, that has pleased as this does. There is a great change of style in Mr. Wright's work this year, but the work still holds good. There is no great amount of contrast in this picture, bat it is full of quiet harmonies and soft suggestiveness. In his picture entitled "Silence," Mr. Wright has essayed to paint a subject on which no two artists are agreed, namely, the colour of moonlight. How far he is successful is quite a matter of personal opinion, but it strikes us as being a success. The sky shows a thoughtful study of cloud forms, both in actual form and comparative strength of tone, compared with the rest of the landscape, while the foreground is kept sufficiently strong to drive the sky well back, and giving plenty of atmosphere. Another artistic little subject is a picture entitled, "Hear Manurewa," which attracts from its simplicity, and no doubt finds many admirers. No. 149, "Winter," is one of several watercojours executed by this artist. -This picture is a very fine suggestion of the season, to which the title refers. The foliage and grass gives an impression of that sodden state that things generally get into after a long spell of wet, but the effect of rain and mist on the hills is splendidly given, while the trees introduced in the middle distance give the touch of dark required in the general scheme of colour, and light and shade. "Morning"is a bit of sea beach with rocks and foliage—a cool gray morning. There is more suggestion than realism in this picture, but the study would grace any collection. " Low Tide, Maraetai,'' is an effect of brilliant sunshine, in which colour almost disappears, bleached nut by the intense light of the sun. The subject selected shows a long stretch of beach with the tide out leaving only a narrow creek. A boat introduced adds to the foreground. "On the M anukait" is a small picture and a mid-day effect. It is a beautiful calm day with strong reflections in the water. The view is taken from near Penrose, showing the Waitakerei ranges in the distance,