"ART CRITICISM."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19141, 6 October 1925, Page 10

"ART CRITICISM."

ITS SCOPE AND FUNCTIONS, ADDRESS BY MR. A. S. BOYD. ART GALLERY PICTURES. The following verso of Kipling's w »s quoted very effectively by Mr. A. S. Boyd as an introduction to an address on "Art Criticism," given at the Auckland Rotary Club yesterday:— When the Hugh of a new-horn sun fell first on Eden's green and gold. Our father Adam sat under a tree ana scratched with a stick in the mould. And the first rude sketch that the world had seen was joy to. Ms mighty heart. Till the devil whispered,behind the leaves. "It's pretty, but—is it art?' "I do not know if Mr. Kipling meant to imply that all critics are devils." contiaued the speaker with characteristic dry humour, "and no matter how some of us may have felt under the castigation of the critic's pen, I do not wish to say all criticism is of the Evil One. Criticism is a very salutary thing, in art as in other departments of Ufa But' when we have produced a work of art, , into which we have put the very best of ] our skill and experience, we usually seek ' to ask a confidential friend his opinion i of it before submitting it to the funeral j public. Criticism may be censorious, adulative, or appreciative, and the greatest of these is the latter." One was frequently asked for criticism, continued Mr. Boyd, when only adulation was wanted and this often made the position of the critic very difficult. They were called upon frequently to give an opinion of a picture they could not possibly praise, while to condemn it as it deserved reqtiired more courage than the average man possessed. In any just and fair criticism the critic should point out first of all whatever was good in a picture. "We save people who sneer at our little home collections in a lump," said Mr. Boyd, "who patronise us as innocents for the pleasure we take in our little collection. The critic thinks his mission is to find fault oniy, but any fool can find fault! It takes a wise critic to point out the merits." The first mission of any picture was to please, the eye by its decorative quality. If it did not possess thi3 quality then it was a failure. It might hold historic or other interest, but if it was not beautiful in composition and drawing it failed in its chief purpose. An artist should not seek to appeal to the initiated only, bu' to mankind as a whole, and an attitude of adverse criticism should not be too lightly adopted. The importance of the cultivation of a true art sense in individuals and communities was emphasised by the speaker, who declared that there was no surer means by which this could be developed than by the contemplation of true works of art. For this reason a gallery committee could not be too particular in its selection of pictures and the use of the funds entrusted to it. Some interesting personal reminiscences of Loighton, Millais and Birket Foster were given by Mr. Boyd, who spoke of the fine book illustrating done by the two firstnamed in the Cornhill Magazine in 1862. "A good deal of ink has been splashed and a good deal of nosense talked," said the lecturer in conclusion, "with regard to the pictures in our own art gallery, but public opinion has been thoroughly roused and one may hope that nothing but good will result." On the' motion of Professor J. C. Sperrin- Johnson, a cordial vote of thanks was accorded Mr. Boyd for his address.