MR PICTURES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10000, 18 June 1918, Page 5

MR PICTURES

FOR NATIONAL COLLECTION TO BE PAINTED BY N.Z. ARTISTS. The Hon. G. W. Russell (Minister for Internal Affairs) made some interesting references yesterday to tho subject of war paintings for the New Zealand National Collection. "Some time ago," he stated to a "Times" representative, "an otter was received from Mr H. C. S. Wright, an English artist, to do battle pictures i'or the Now Zealand Government. The offer was considered; and it was decided that there wag no' need '"to' go beyond our ' own shores for work oi this class, as there are several New Zealand artists at the front and others have returned to the Dominion. The director of the Dominion has now reported to me that the Canadian Government has appointed thirty artist s belonging, to that' country, to whom they were giving commissions to paint war pictures. ARTIST AND SNIPER, TOO. "Or Thompson reports that Mr Nugent Welsn, a New Zealand artist, left with the 14th Reinforcement, it was discovered that ho was a._ crack shot, and ho wa s given a position as sniper, but in his spare time he made a lot of sketches and decorated the walls' of his dug-out with them. One of tho generals saw these sketches; and, noting his excellent work, took him away to other dutiel at the base, giving him special work to utilise for military purposes his peculiar talent as a sketcher. My opinion (said the Minister, in conclusion) is that when, the time arrives all the necessary painting can be don-e for New Zealand by New Zealanders; and I hope that those of our men who are competent will be employed by the Government in. preparing suitable pictures for the National Collection."