LEIGHTON'S PAINTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19510, 14 December 1926, Page 14

LEIGHTON'S PAINTING.

"THE SPIRIT OF THE SUMMIT" ARRIVAL AT ART GALLERY. Auckland yesterday came into full possession of the groat painting of Lord Leightora, " The Spirit of.tho Summit, 1 ' given to the city by Mr. Moss Davis, of London.. ■ ' ... r Regarded, as probably the bei;t work of the creator of " Fatidica," "Summer Slumber.,'' " The Bracelet " and " At the Window," the picture has found its permanent Shorn e at the Art Gallery, and has the place of honour among the choicest of the collection of oils.

The pleasure of viewing as their own possession a painting described as " the genius of Leighton personified" will serve -to direct the steps'of crowds of citizens to the Art Gallery. The striking figure of a girl, enthroned on a peak whose snowy cap matches tha whiteness of her flowing garment, gazing with upturned face to the scarlet sky, conveys instantly the ideal of the painter explained lay James A. Manson in "Makers of British Art " ais a Uniting of " things heavenly and tilings earthly in one superlative creation. " '

The picture—7B inches by o9g inches, set in a golden, fluted frame—was ex. hibited. at the Royal Academy ia 1894, two years before the death of the painter. " The Spirit of the Summit" was exhibited iagain in 1895, and also in 1897, at the memorial exhibition at Burlington House. It was sold a few mor.ths ago at Christie's to a dealer, from whofti Mr... Davis obtained it.