ART EXHIBITION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11254, 5 July 1922, Page 3

ART EXHIBITION

ROYAL ACADEMICIANS McGREGOR. WRIGHT'S GALLERY. It is not very often that original works by British Royal Academicians are exhibited in New' Zealand art galleries. Some interesting pictures by Sir Arthur Hacker, R.A., Mr Julius Ollsson, R.A., the famous marine painter and the late Mr Frederick Gooilall,, and .Mr Andrew Gow, both of whom wero R.A.’s, are now on view at the McGregor Wright Gallery, on Lambton quay. In addition, there are choice samples of the art of such weilknowm painters as Messrs Lee Jlankey, R. 1., R. 0.1., W. Hely Smith, R.8.A., W. Luker, E.8.A., A. Ludovici, R. 1., A. J. Bryce, R.8.A., and other English artists whose wc r k is not often seen in the Dominion. New Zealand artists are also well represented, Messrs C. N. Worsley, O. Goldie, Nugent Welch, A. J. Niccoll, Robt. Johnson, the late Mr Gully, Mrs Hughes, and others contributing to either the oils or the water colours sections of the exhibition. The delightfully personal art of the etcher is also represented by the work of several members of the Royal Society of Painter Etchers. Tlie exhibition admission to which is free, will only bo open until Saturday next. Among the oils the piece-de-resist-ance is Mr Julius Ollsson’s striking marine study, “Choppy Weather off the Cornish Coast.” The rigorous draughtsmanship displayed in this picture of an angry sea breaking over jagged rocks, the rich colouring, and the expressive handling of the delicate atmospheric effects combine in making this an exceptionally choice example of Mr Ollsson’s art.

In a very different genre the carefully painted head of a young gip6y girl, by the late Andrew Gow, R.A., is well worthy of inspection. The wistful beauty of the face, the clever treatment of the flesh tones, and "the general charm of the study will at once )be recognised by all who visit the exhibition. Sir Arthur Haacker, R.A., hao a fine figure study in water colours, showing a fair young English girl sitting in a boat moored apparently in backwater. _ This picture, with its clever drawing and delicately harmonised tones would be a desirable addition to any collection. The fourth Royal Academician represented in the exhibition is the late Mr Frederick Goodall, who specialised in Eastern subjects. Tlie example of his art there shown has for its .subject an Eastern shepherd tending his flock, a very attractive motif ably handled. English water colour painting is well represented in the collection. Mr Hely Smith, R.A., is to the fore with a large and broadly painted picture, “Tropical Traders,” a very effective study of shipping under a blazing tropical sun. Sir Smith’s smaller picture, in particular, a Thames-side soene, “Strand on Green,” will also be much admired. Mr G. C. Haites, R.8.A., sends an interesting Dutch scene, “Market Day, Dordrecht,” and the visitor must not overlook the small bot very charming picture, “On tlie Sands at St. Ives,’ 5 by Mr Ludovici, R.8.A., who was a friend and fellowworker with Whistler, and whose work possesses not a little of the master’s delicacy and sprightliness. Mr Lee Hankey, R. 0.1., to-day one of the most popular of English painters, sends a charming little head of a girl, niid a delicately painted landscape. Mr Fred Roe’s ‘‘Off to Blighty” is an attractive little picture, and the two studies of lions and* their oubs by the Mr Charles Swan, the famous animal painter, are also excellent examples of that artist’s specialised work. , T Lister Lister, president of the New South Wales Art Society, contributes a largo oil, a strongly treated coastal scene, and a fascinating watercolour drawing, in which the excellent perspective is a very commendable feature. Our old friend, Mr 0. E. Worsley, is well represented by a large and attractive London scene, ‘ Fleet Street on a Misty Day.” Tlie motor ’buses, the newsboys, the policepiloting an old lady across the street, are all very cleverly placed, and the background of buildings and church steeples, seen dimly through tlie mißt, is very effectively suggested. Mr Worsley also contributes two richly coloured Continental scenes. Two excellent oils are a Cornish landscape, Corot-like in treatment, by the late Mr J. Noble Barlow, a Dutch pastoral, “Milking Time, Holland,” bv J B] r ce > R.8.A., and two admirable small paintings •by Mr O Goldie, the Auckland artist, whose work is nowadays very rarely seen in our New Zealand exhibitions as the artist is living in Paris. As an example of the carefully detailed work of the Victorian school, Mr John Morgan’s “Prayer ” a studv of a mother and her daughter at their devotions, is another interesting exhibit. Among the Neiv Zealand artists represented are Messrs Nugent Welch McCracken, Robt. Johnson, T. E. Thompson (a Christchurch artist who has been long a resident in Paris), Mrs H. Hughes (two excellent water-colour landscapes), and Mrs Tripe (a clever figure study). In addition to tlie oils and water-colours there is a large and interesting collection of etchings by well-known English gravers. The whole exhibition is one which offers a rare treat to lovers of art.