N.Z. ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2575, 30 July 1895, Page 3

N.Z. ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS.

Considering the weaklier there was a good attendance at the Art Gallery yesterday, when the exhibition of the New Zealand Academy was again open. His Excellency the. Governor, accompanied by Lady Alice Boyle and Captain Clay toil and Preston, paid a visit in the afternoon, In the evening musical items wets given by Miss Newton and l\lr A. Newton. To-night the music will be supplied by Mrs Parsons and her talented family. THE PICTURES, n. There are two conspicuously important works amongst the water-colours—both portraits—one by Miss M. E. Richardson pud one by Mr R. N. Anderson. Miss Riehfirdson’s “ Portrait ” (40) is an admirable work in a rich colour-scheme of blue and brown, and is in every way vreatod With true feeling and appreciation of canon. The flesh tones are natural and the textures are good, the pose easy, and the drawing vigorous and correct. The whole of Miss Riphardson’s water-colour Wprk this . year shows the inevitable improvement consequent upon careful and conscientious work. She has two or three landscapes which bear evidence of honest out-door •• work. “ Dick" (44) is an exceedingly clever and vigorous sketch of a fox terrier’s head, and “ Childhood ” (45) shows good quality and feeling. ■Mr Anderson’s large portrait has such good points about it as to make it a matter, for regret to have to condemn the picture as : a whole. The general texture and technique are pudeniably good, and the pqlpvir scheme is iqoftepsiyo. Dpt the flesh toiiep are inharmonious, and the drawing of the arms and (hands —a prominent feature of the picture—is stiff and unnatural to an exasperating extent. Mr Anderson has reached too far, and has failed to.. master a style as yet beyond his roach. His landscape.? this, year are. withput exception disappointing. His drawing aqd perspective are good,„bnt some of his pplour is simply unimaginable, ft is very much tp : bo’ f egrottedthat Mr; Anderson hqa sent iu such poor work this' year, as both last year and the year before his work promised good things. ■ ’ Miss Mabel Hill exhibits examples of work in portrait and landscape, and here again one’s spirits are depressed, .i Good as her work undoubtedly is in both branches, it is not so emphatically admirable as it was last year, and there ate’ one or two things hung this year to which we Are sorry .the public is to be introduced as : specimens of ‘ her work,. economy of space preypiita a reproduction of the ’ worthy oit Miss'Hili-s easel. -'The foreground of’■ wilct growing . (look is . full of true colour and tone, and the blue gum foliage is treated in n method which she has' made ‘her yeyy own, "A Little Rrpnette” (?g) is admirable work; Showing reaj niastey -'pf. difficult (technique ; but the child's expression, natural, is unfortunate. The l drawing is excellent, and the textures of ’the “draperies” perfect.’ " A Patient” (42) should have beenleft in the. studio. “Evening” (86). is a strong sketch, good in colour, but a little more care would have placed the water on a possible plane., , An artist whose work shows very considerable advance this year is Mr F, .Wright,- of Auckland, "who Ijas(dirge, <pif. four landscapes iijeap the', entrance dopr—, “On P.ojnt Oh'eyatier’.’ ($), v./fhe'sHillubsa. p£''th'6' , Mprn-V. , “A Bit of Auckland Harbour ” (6) and A Grey Day ”■ (12) v alf of Wluch afe ip good sfrbpg style, ' ’ ' Mp W. M, : Hodgkins send§ only ope esr ample, mpeh otpp’ "A (Sodden bnt.that'is a worthy, specimen o| a manner' and method which stamps him as'cnr Very first landscape • painter in water-colour. . . ' ' - Miss Hodgkins sends several very (Charm-, ing’examples.’ Jiirhaps the best being ; a ilittlo genre bit, “ Washing Day ” (48), in which the simplest bf’ subjects is treated with the keen appreciation of the boya artist. Her “ Head of an o)d' Woman “ (187); which takes the prize Ini the com-( petitivb class, is a characteristic and strong example of admirable , drawing and technique, the flesh (tones perhaps a little irreconcilable;

3(r Nairn's water-colours are,; always vigorous’. “A Friend of Mine ■ (51)’ h( a, fino'stiidy and a goodlikonoss. 1 The method is masterly, and .tbo tones and, textures excellent, ■AThpriidohi dtyrpng: “'?($)) a\ beautiful bit pf bpdrx-air ‘ and dancing wateri ■■ ■'■ ,V •iV.'i.'-’)" Of. JJailliehas several examples in a miibner whose individuality \s strongly .preserved, ile has done better work ihg the year than he she's:?,, but all that ho shows are •up to, the reputation ho has wen- If is composition, js a very strong point, and he is nothing if not a colourist, Hr 11, M. a. Atcherley ..senda a number of landscapes ip a nice moan stylo, having, however, tqo ;,jnuoh‘| of the 3 studio, element i hke^inany'’another artist’s work they do not carry the palpable freshness only to be achieved through outdoor’ wort; Mr 1), C. Hutton, of Dunedin, sends a rather, good thing,. “After Glow—Port Chalmers” (17). c ■: Mies Blackett has one or two, landscapes in'good method, “ Southerly h;f I Petdnd w , (52)ibeing a good study of sea and shy. ‘ 3fr 1V..1’. Harraud has some good work. ’ Mr J. 0. Richmond is not well represented'this year, .■ There is a small collection of sketches in water-colour from Sydney’which, though very sketchy, show good promise and a keen appreciation of colour; one in particular, “Paddling" 1 (72), being an exquisite little hit. , ■ ;;,Tho Academy is tq bp sincerely congratulated op this exhibitidn, go tax aa the.' work sent In i'a‘ concerned, and thp IJauging Committee is to be particularly oOmplimontod on the judgment displayed, in their part of the arrangements. ■' e