SOME PINE PORTRAITS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7049, 10 February 1910, Page 5

SOME PINE PORTRAITS

THE WOEK OF .MISSES WAEN ASD EEEEAA'T.

Most public exhibitions of pictures are dii.appauLt.ing, climliy because they are Uung higgkdy-piggled y on the bare walls uf a more or i<v*s ugly room. It is difficult to judge the artistic merit of a portrait in dingy surroundings and where It is crammed together wirk innumerable .others. Miss Baldwin Warn and Miss 11. Durrani gave a private view of forty of their pictures yesterday at the house of Dr Crosby, Mount View. It was therefore a highly delightful experience tv> get away from the ordinary “gallery’' atmosphere and to sco some very beautiful work hung amidst artistic, quiet, and tasteful surroundings. The value of a private house, where it is possible to modify or increase lights, cannot be overestimated, if pictures arc to be seen at their best. MissAVam’s portrait work is well known, and in her collection seen yesterday there is nothing unworthy. Hor art is marked by breadth, boldness, ami depth, and this is best see.n in the portraits of strongly featured men and mature women. The faithfulness of the well-known portrait of Mr Martin Chapman, K.C., is in point, and the dignity of treatment, the avoidance of bizarre effect and exaggerated colour noted in this example is observed iu every other instance. Miss Wain's people are appealingly real. She paints the "soul” of the sitter. There is real power in her portrait of ‘Air Etheringtxm”: whether the subject was selected because of the bold and intellectual masculinity of the face or whether its painting was a commission is not known. The work is strikingly excellent. This lady has a number of portraits of Miss Eur'rant, and all aac sympathetic in treatment aud quite faithful. She not only paints people really but she paints real attitude. Among hor best exhibits is the portrait of “Miss Chapman,” and it is here seen that, although the painter loves to paint a face that speaks- of deeds and action, she still has the daintiest touch and the most delightful sympathy with the young and beautiful.- Her-art. is certainly at its highest in “Miss Chapman. Miss Warn has a reputation as a painter of miniatures, , and some examples now exhibited have. had ■ very notable company in the Paris Salon and in other great exhibitions. Tim daintiness of the work in these ivory miniatures is astonishing. There is “Cordelia/' and she seems alive,- There is one of a middleaged woman with “character” written all over it I There are sweet-faced babies one wants to : steal.. One is very glad io meet Miss Warn's pictured people,. for they seem very real and very natural. There are water colours, too; and these are sweet and dainty and, above allsane. Miss Warn has no “flights of pigmentation,” as a famous Eoyal Academician expresses the lunacy of unnaturalness. ‘

Miss Durrant is a student -of character, and ,in her selection she cares for the impressive face and the power, that no dabbler can add to a portrait. - There is no colour offence anywhere, but there is dignity, sobriety and a depth of understanding. Notable ,is a fine portrait of _ “Admiral Rolfe,” , and - the living spirit is in the,canvas. The portrait of a chess player with a fine face and the deeply studious mental attitude. plainly observable ,is also excellent. "The Old Weaver" is full of character, and Miss Durrani’s ability to paint attitude is seen in, a partieularly,finely painted portrait of a boy. Her water colours are of . far-off picture nooks—quaint bid mill ponds or Dutch canals with the drowsy dull-sailed craft crawling or at rest. It is impossible to do Justice to-a very choice collection in a short notice. ■The water colours are for sale, a number of the portraits have been lent, and some are of folks who nave given commissions to these two clever artists.