AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTS EXHIBITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10427, 27 April 1897, Page 6

AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTS EXHIBITION.

The Society of Arts Exhibition, »t the Choral Hall, w»s well attended yesterday afteruocn and evaning. In the evening there was f. large assemblage, owing to the drawing of the Society's Art Union. The following gentlemen formed the committee, supervising the drawing :-Messrs. E. A. Mnckechme, Gregory, J. J. Hollaud, W. 8. Ruthbone, W. A lolUrd, E. W. P.yton, F. Wright. The drawing from the bojes was effected by two young ladies. The art union .consisted of 516 tickets •of 2s 6d each, totalling £64 10?, divided into 16 prizes. The following was the reeulc of the drawing :- 446 £3, E. C. J. Threakstoue; 549, £2, W. E. Ooleman; 556,£2. E.Hesketh : 164, £5, E \V. Paytonl; 525, £5, Mrs. John Roberton; 127. £2, Arch. Clark ; 122, £2, H. 8. Andrews ; 352, £7 10s. Mrs. T. Cotter: 569, £5. W. S. Wilson j 554, £3, Mrs Richmond ; 391, £3, Dr. Daweon ; 69, £5, Dr. A. G. Purchat; 172, £3, Miss Amy Gregory: 185, £10, A. Christie; 541, £5, Thomas Peacocke; 588, £2, E. flesketh. The Exhibition will opeu to-day at 12,30, but will not be open in the evening owing to the Choral Society's practice. To-morrow (Wednesday) it will open as usual at mid-day, and finally close that evening with a promenade concert, notified elsewhere. The following, among others, have promised to assist :— Miss Goldsbro', Messrs. G. M. Reid, W. George, J. Warner, Mevvburn, and Trenwith. OILS AND WATER COLOURS. Mr. J. D. Perrett has several oils, water colours, and three'exhibits in pastel. "The Reef Suva, Fiji," gives a very good idea of the heat and atmosphere of the tropics. The colour of the war water teems a trifle crude, and the clouds are not painted with this artist's usual care. They are indefinite in outline and weak in handling. " Morning, Lake Pukaki," we like much better. The time selected ia when the sun has just risen, and the light only catches the peaks of the highest mountains while the lower lying parts of the landscape remain in half-Hght. "Auckland Harbour" it a picture which is not particularly flattering to our harbour, and it is not as good as some others exhibited by Mr. Perrett. "A Peaceful Vale" is rather suggestive o f the scenery in the South Island—a creek flowing among boulders, two horses coming to the water's edge. A pleasant little landscape, "The End of (he Day" (water colour), is a swamp at sunset—an impression, but not a very strong one. " Clearing after Eain, Milford Sound," " Lake Manapouri," and "Dunedin Harbour," are all executed in the same medium. The pastels arn a difficult medium and require to be skilf iilly handled, or the result is weakness. Mr. Perrett's work is usually characterised by delicacy of treatment and refined feeling. Mrs. Wlroud contributes _" Field Flowers," a study of poppies, daisies, and cornflowers, with grasses introduced, and in which the three primary colours are used extensively. This combination is invariably ii risky experiment. The effect is likely to become bizarre. The artist has cleverly avoidedtliisdifficulty. "FromtheGarden"isa flower study, and a combination we do not remember haviog seen painted before. The group shows considerable abiliity in the direction of translating Nature. There is a doptli and roundness in the combination of the flowers, two things fßquently neglected in flower vainting. The basket introduced seems a trifle small. " Spring" is a study of primroses and violets. Our remarks on last picture apply here also. A strong light is focussed on the centre of the group, the remainder of the flowers being suggested. "Old Fashioned Flowers," in a yellow jar ia rather less successful perhaps than this lady's other exhibits, but possesses excellent qualities. Mr. T. L. Drummond exhibits another large oil entitled, "At Suneet;," logs lying in a half-dry creek. This picture possesses all the characteristics of the artist, and is bold and striking. " A Fisherman's Hut," on the banks of the river, pohutak&wa trees, and teatree covered hills in the distance. This is a good example of Mr. Drummond's work, but we have seen better. Although the sky is brilliantly illuminated, there seems an absence of corresponding light on the landscape. " A Sunset Effect" shows the last gleam of the setting sun on % mountain., with illuminated clouds behind it. "Clearing after Rain" is a picture in which Mr. Gregory has rather retrograded and fallen into his old style. There is too much photographic detail, and not sufficient attention given to the masses and general effect. The cloud forms and tone appear to be a weakness in the picture, and the line ■of rushes requires breaking. "Behold the Queen of Night" is a moonlight picture, with dark foliage and .creek. The forma of the banks of the creek require revising, and we question the lines of clouds following the composition lines of the trees as being the best possible. There is a blackness about some of the tones and want of atmosphere generally. A study of "Roses" by this artist is wanting in light and shade. The group suggests having been pressed flat. Mr. Gregory lias also three water-colours. The first, "Princes-street, Auckland," is not a good selection for pictorial purposes, but giving to the artist plenty of scope for foliage painting. "An Impression, PonBonby," is very much better, both in selection and general effect, Some of the touches are rather minute, and would have been better if kept in large masses. "View in Lower Symonds-street" shows St. Andrew's spire under "fleet of moonlight. The perpendicular lines are not quite straight, and the gum-tree requires more character in the foliage. Mr. C. Blomtield has several exhibits in the Exhibition. " Lynden Falls, Routeburn River, Lake Wliakatipu," ia painted iu this artist's well-known style. It is probably his best this year. "Amongst the Ferns" and " Te Kuina, Coromandel," are also exhibited, both pictures being fairly up to his standard, hut far inferior to work he has had in the Exhibitions of former years. Mr. J. Yearbury has several pictures. " The Oruawharo River" is a very good picture in every respect, with the exception of the two cabbage trees in the foreground. The work would be all the better for their absence. "A Trout Stream" is another picture by this artist. We would call his attention to a strong mannerism creeping into his work, the habit of placiog a tree iu the foreground und running out of the picture. This is sometimes unpleasant. " A Bend in the Rotul" is a picture similar in character to hi; principal work. Rather too greeu. Mr. R. Pheney contributes several pictures, his second being entitled "West Coast," following a recognised method of concentrating the vision in one place, leaving other parts of the picture suggested. It is rather flat in treatment, and wanting in strength. "Karab Creek, Thames," »nd "Quartz Mining, the Drive," are water colours. Both thoroughly conscientious pieces of work, but wanting in light and shade. Miss Amy Rhodes has a pleasing little picture entitled " On the Great Barrier," but the two nikaus introduced seem a trifle out of place. Mr. Thos. Ball sends a number of oils. "Lingering Light" is a sunset effect-a swamp, with half, submerged boat and kahikatea trees, a very good .piece of work. " A Day in Spring" is another swamp subject, with cabbage trees, a fine fresh bit of colour. "Bird-nesting" is a picture in which the subject of the title is not very evident; a good picture nevertheless. '"The Boathouse," "Cabbage Bay," "Evening Calm," aud "Creek near Drury," are all painted with the same care and fidelity to Nature. Mr. W. P. Barraud (of Wellington) is a prolific exhibitor in water colours. "Farm Lands, Kaikoura," is a picture which seems to be wanting in warmth. There is mi excess of blue and green in the colour scheme "A Misty Evening, Pipiriki, Wanganui River," is very much better. There is a nice feeling of atmosphere through the picture. " Tongariro, from Lake Rotoaira," gives a view which is unusual in our art exhibitions, and is also pleasing in effect. " A Squall Auckland Harbour," North Shore and Rangitoto, is a favourite subject with Southern artiste when on a visit to Auckland " A Southerly Breeze, York Bay," is not so successful, the rocks in the foreground are decidedly groggy. " Evening on Wai-Iti, Nelson, is not so good as some of this artist's work we have seen previously.