ART NOTES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7336, 14 January 1911, Page 9

ART NOTES

Mr Noel Barraud's Water-Colours. It is "some time now- since we had such a pleasant little "one man show, as that of■■•Mr.'Jsoel Baivraud s irateicolotir sketches, now on view, at mi Butler's well known Gallery on Lumbtoit quay Mr, Barraud, who, as of course, all "old Wellingtonians know, is the son of . a geutlemau' who not only painted well himself, but was deeply interested in all artistic movements, exhibits some fiftv or sixty sketches, few of which are commonplace either in subject or treatment, and some- of which are exceptionally cood. Mr Barraud's work has greatly gained in breadth and strength as a result of his recent trip to Europe. The exhibition, includes sketches. ill Holland, the Bavarian Highlands, and in various parts of England I«'°m three of the sketches 01 Bosham, that quaint Old -World little seaport in bussex whence so many English artists have found fertile inspiration, are exceptionally attractive, being sound in draughtsmanship and delicate- in coloui, without being merely ."pretty-pretty.. At 'Doidrecht the artist .was again cessful, a canal .scene, and tne little sketch showing... the , much-painted "Groofe Kerke,"- being .specially,noltice--able. A larger sketch, of the btadt Haus tower at tho quaint and historically lainous little town, of Veerc, displays im© perspective and a welcome suggestion at atmosphere.: ; ; IVo- snow scenes—me Baden See scene especially—have evoked mucu/'admiratioa from, visitors. 1 am glad to see that the little "red seal which denotes'a sale, is affixed to a tanproportion of the frames. The pictures are most .moderately priced, and their Jiappv compromise between moderate impressionism, and the unduly emphasised detail of the "old school" makes theiu most suitable for hanging in small rooms. 1 hope to see Mr ivoet Barraud well 'represented at this-year's exhibition M 'the Academy. He.has evidently amassed a wealth of artistic notes, and I trust lie will try his hand at a few pieture's, based upon his recent English and Continental studies.

The New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts,

Now that the holiday season is over members of cur older local art society are wondering what step's are to betaken by. the Council of the Academy with regard to- the .expenditure of the .£SOO grant ■which'"..was passed last session on the 'Supplementary Estimates. There is a very general opinion that the money can and ought to be much more wisely expended .than: was the case when the Academy- got ,its. previous, grant from the' State. Certain" "of the pictures then purchased in'the.Old Country move artloving, visitors from •other centres -to open <.scoiiing, and although allowances must, of coarse, always -be made for differences in taste, most of us are'agi-ced that in two or three instances the Academy got very poor value for its money. The resignation by Mr' Henri Bastings of tlie" secretaryship has caused a vacancy which not a. few members of the Society, consider should be filled, without further-' delay. The fact that the , weather .'has been rather liot is-no excuse for the curious somnolence which appears, to' afflict those at the head of t'ne Academy's affairs. I 'hope to hear of a meeting of the Council being-called at an 'early date. \

Wellington -Arts Club. The Arts Club' proposes to-hold, its first annual exhibition; on April 22nd, following 'immediately upon, that of. the Canterbury Society. There will be tno charge to the public, for admission, and the exhibition, which will bo held at iiaogrcgor Wright's gallery in Lambton quay,, wilTlast three weeks. A selection committee of no fewer than fifteen has ■been appointed. 1 am strongly of opinion that a largo committee is generally more satisfactory'to exhibitors than a small one, as the personal equation,: which is so. often in evidence in the selections of a small committee, is to a great extent •eliminated in a, large one. All the-same,.fifteen, certainly seems a rather' "largo order." The selection will .be made' by secret ballot. This is a worthy innovation. The number of works which, may ,be exhibited by each' artist: must not exceed four. ■ '± his is decidedly a step in the right direction, as in a'club consisting foif the most part of amateurs 1 fail to see how a. greater quantity of good work could be put in by an exhibitor, especially if he exhibits at the Academy as well, and,to allow members each to exhibit six"or eight works would be to encourage them to send in a number of mere sketches which might well be reserved torthesketch exhibition, winch, 1 understand, is to be an. annual event.in the, club, in connection, with this it is interesting to note that: the Glasgow Club this year limits.the,number of exhibits wnich may be put, in by each member to one. Another sensible arrangement is that the: hanging is to be left in the bands ,of one member, who, it is reassuring to note, is not an. exhibitor.

A Progressive Institution. The Arts Club is now progressing quietly and steadily and has .entered its second year with a membership strong enough to enable it to carry out its objects.' The reading room is now well stocked with magazine*, amongst which I noticed, on a. recent visit, tne following: "The, Studio," "Art Journal," "Connoisseur," "Burlington," "Art Chronicle," "Craftsman," "Moderno Ivuust;" "Figaro." "L'£tude," "Musical Opinion," "The- Musician," "Playgoer," "Play Pictorial," "The Bookman," and some .excellent photographic journals, whilst an order Jias j ust gone forward for additional books for the library by authors such as.Pennell, Frank AVedmore, Arthur Synionds, Baymond , XJnwin, Popre, Yoshio Jlarkmo, Graves, Huneker,. Flnck, Chesterton, Shaw, Eostand, Yeats, Francis Thompson, Muther, and Bjornsen. I was pleased to see that the club has ordered the Intarnatioaai Art Series, which includes such painters as Fragonard, Delacroix, Degas, Israels, Oberlander,: Jiodler, and others who are not sufficiently well known. I have not seen lately so many accounts of afternoon teas and more serial fnnftior«,.a(

the club, arid am glad to see that the institution has not degenerated, as at one time it threatened to do, into a mere "tea and tattle" society, a state of things that, has spoilt inajiy an Art Club in England, resulting- often in the withdrawal of the right sort of members. On the other hand, the attendance of members genuinely interested in the legitimate aims of the club is gradually increasing, especially since tho reading room has been established. One of tho chief charms of the club is its quietness. It is situated away from the rattle of the traffic, and yet is sufficiently central to be easy of .access, and is dimply ajid tastefully appointed. Those members who desire to meet their friends in town away from the clatter of a city tea-room are allowed to bring them to the club tea-room,. which is the only room set apart for visitors. Frank Brangwyn. The English illustrated papers received by this week's mail contain most eulogistic references to the recently published book, "Ei-auk Brangwyn and. His "Work," by W. Shaw Sparrow, which appears to contain a most .exhaustive account of Brangwyn's"many-sided artistic talent. "Black arid.-.'White," so I notice, gives a large 'half-tone reproduction of the~.spkmdid "Santa Maria del Salute," which hangs in our local Art Gallery. In tlw "Graphic" are reproductions of Brangwyn's famous panels in the Leeds Art Gallery. The "Illustrated Loudon News" is yet more interesting to 'admirers of this wonderfully versatile artist, for it reproduces four etchings of scenes at-'Messina,'during and .after tho great earthquake.'; These etchings, which display a most astounding virility and dramatic power, were recently exhibited in London, and have created quite a sensatio'n in art circles. "The Studio." A welcome feature in'the H"ovembei ,' - Studio"' is. an article on "An Australian Water-Colour fainter, Henry Teb1/itt," by \V.. AldeiUioveu.. Mr. Tetdiitt has for some years been prominent in Victorian art.' in his landscape work he is singularly successful in reproducing atmospneric effects. Amongst" the illustrations to this article is a fine watercolour of "Sydney, ~ from Vaucluse." Ayliner Yallanee writes on Sir Edward uurne Jones's designs for stained glass, two coloured places representing tne windows designed by Burne-Jones for Jesus College, Cambridge, and a London church. Other full-page plates in colour i are reproductions of a drawing bj Honore Dfturaier, a. coloured wood engraving* by Kudolf Junk, and an oilpainting by Bruno Lilefors. - The seriei of articles on "Japanese Art and Artists of To-day" is continued. This mouth. Professor Harada' deals ■: with wood and I ivory carving.- TV Hedberg discusses th« work of a famous Swedish painter ol animals, and some recent' etchings bj I'. M. Armi'iigtoii, a Canadian, a<r« charming examples of a very delightful art. Domestic architecture receives attention, and as usual the Studio Talk v reflects the art movements generally iif Great Britain and oh the Continent. ■ I The "Art journal." The three supplements to the December number of the "Art Journal" are a coloured plate, after Coustabie'6 "Treesnear Hampstead Heath," Clausen's "Morn ing in June" (now in the Johannesburg Gallery), and an etching by Mabel C Kobinson, "The Harbour Master's Inn, Ltmoho'use," the latter a. quaint riverside scene. Mr- C. Lewis Hind brings to a conclusion his series of articles entitled "The Consolations of an Injured Critic," the illustrations rex>reseiiting pictures by Lacoste, Menara, Anton Mauve, Ilarpignics, Bonvin, Weissenbmch, and' William Nicholson. It is to be hoped that tho publishers may issue Mr Hind's admirably informative and suggestive papers in a.. collected . form as they did with Mr AVedmore'S'articles entitled "Some of the Moderns,"' "Art Patronage in England, "Furred Collectors," and "The British Institution," are amongst' other subjects dealt with. - Two "Studio" Extras. Two "Studio" Extras are being issued this "season. One deals with "Peasant Art in Finland," and contains an unusually hue collection of : illustrations representing every possible phase of peasant art. The other is entitled "British •Mezzotints," . and includes : facsimiles oi the best work of the great niezzotrnters who flourished at the close of the last and commencement of the . present century. These "Studio" Extras go out of print very quickly, and the wise collector buys as early as possible. Some of the earlier issues are now worth lour to live times their original price. *

WheatleV's "Cries of London." The "Connoisseur" special number « devoted to the work of I'. Wheatloy, copies of whoso "Cries of London" are so miidi sought after.. .Uesides the

"Cries" the volume contains a representative selection from Wheatley's work in various form of art. .. .'

Japanese Prints. Some few weeks ago allusion, was mad* in this column to the suitability of Japanese colour prints, if properly framed, as decorations for halls and staircases. At the time 1 was unable to say where these prints could be bought. Those 1 saw, came direct from Japan, ,but ,■» friend recently from London tells'ma he got a fine selection from a dealer named Oven lioshino, in Chancery Lane. The prints are very cheap, from, a shilling -upwards;