OTAGO ART SOCIETY'S EXHIBITION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 5896, 31 December 1880, Page 4

OTAGO ART SOCIETY'S EXHIBITION.

[second notice.]

Mr Irvine exhibits (9) a historical picture of a class not often painted here—" Mrs Sidelong,. Visit to Dr Johnson." It is a good composition^ by a veteran artist who understands his sab. ject. Unfortunately the figure of the lady has the appearance of being Bomowhat ont of drawing; this is probably due to ite being hung, at a very low level, a mistake which is fatal to portraits. Nos. 3, 4, and 8, by Mr Beauchamp, are Tasmanian scenes. Though this gentlemau has managed to some extent to hit off tke characteristics of Tasmanian scenery as to light and colour, he has not shown any sign of improvement. His drawing is very faulty: a distant peak is a great deal too distant, and as - a result it crowds forward over the middle distance. His (13) " Dry's Bluff "is more satisfactory. Misa Sjperrey, in No. 14, exhibits a tul hanging against a piece of planking. The dead bird is faithfully painted, indeed almost too faith* fully, as it shows the dilapidations which mark its fate. We should scarcely have looked foe so much of the poetical at Pore Chalmers as is shown in Mr 3. Gibbs' picture (114) entitled "A Bright Night—Fi»h-curinpr Works, Port Chalmers." It is not only a faithful drawing, but a really beautiful picture. Mrs Joachim's "At Croyde, North Devon" (No. 16), toft pretty little piece of village scene. A small bridge, a bit of a cottage in the foreground, a handcart in the middle of the road, and a few trees are bo combined as to make a pretty picture. No. 20, by Miss J. A. Wimferis, is a somewhat similar piece in the same village, but with more houses. It is a very taßteful little painting, and the artifst has been very successful in putting in a little bright colouring here and there. Nos. 17 and 18 are two rural sketches by Mr Wimferis. Though very simple so far as the subject is cencerned, they »re rural scenes exhibiting a great deal of fidelity in a very quiet way. A small "mob" of sheep on a meadow, marching outwards in. the one and homewards in the other, over a piece of level ground, is also, in the hands of this finished artist, a pleasant picture. " On the Common" (29), by the same artist, is larger and has fax more work in it. Here, too, a small patch of sheep on a rough common are the centre of an effective rural scene. In No. 19, "An Opening in the Bush at Kfnloch, Lake Wakatipu," we venture to think Mr Gifford is not equal to himself. Some of his other pictures are certainly better,. He has scarcely made the most of his " opening," and fails exactly to hit the foliage of the birch tree. Mr Hodgkins, in 22 and 24, a pair of Art Olub sketches, shows some very artistic touches and ; his large picture of Mount Cook (56), which deservedly occupies a prominent place in the gallery, should be studied byyounger artists. Mrs Davidson's " Aden" (25), though not altogether satisfactory, at any rate to one who doeß not know the place, is very well worked out in the foreground. A number of small craft are very well grouped. The fault of the picture seems to be that the moontain immediately behind the town is jumbled up in an incomprehensible way ; this may be characteristic of the locality. " Suez" (28), by the same lady, is much more satisfactory, and deserves to be noticed as a really artistic composition. Miss F. Wimferis contributes " A Study1" (18) of a thoughtfully-painted head. No. 34» "Sandfly Bay," by Miss Howortb, a large water-colour of bush, mountain, and ocean, gives great promise for the future. It is carefully selected, and executed with great regard for Arawiug and perspective, qualities which are too often neglected; the foliage, too, is carefully painted. The same contributor has other work* in the exhibition, including one of " Brighton," with a feather-white breaking sea, well painted. Miss Eoscoe's "Red Pinea" (32) and other subjects show that she has a good idea of effect, but a disregard for nature in New Zealand.

Two small Australian pieces, by Mr Gibbe* (33 and 39) are apparently too green, for the verdure of that country ; however, this gentleman may have been., fortunate in his season. His sky in 39 is certainly well painted. No. 37, "The Sentry Bock, Takitimo Mountains," is a very effectiveexample of Mr White's bold style of dealing , with the bold scenery of Western Oiago. A. cold mass of mountain is very strikingly treated. Mx Barraud, whose hand is now familiar lE. - this part of the world, never fails to reproducesomething interesting. His " Wellington Harbour by Moonlight" (40) is a very happy representation of the subject A new artist, Mr C» Howorth, comes forward with some veryeffective paintings. We hope we shall seesomething more of him. His " Milford.' Sound" (54) is a very impressive reproduction of a now familiar subject^, the atmospheric effect being well chosen. "In the Stream, Deborah Bay" (60), by the same gentleman, is a fine moonlight effect* which in Mr Howorth is the possession of something like inspiration. He has dealt with hia ships—whiob. aro not mere logs, but quiescentthings of life—in a masterly way. Misa Holmes scarcely needs a compliment from. us. Her "Eagle's Nest" (66), an Art Club sketch, is a piece of pure com~ position of a really poetical character. Dr Scott contributes two pretty sketches (73 and 76), the result of work in the same' Club, very tastefully drawn ; and the same may be said of Dr Roberts' " Lotos-eaters "" (81), a fanciful little picture. In a totally different branch of art from those already noticed is Miss F. M. Wimferis' "Plague1" (110), on which is painted a beautiful sprig o£ almond blossom, faithful aa life itself. Her " Gretchen " (111), too, is a pretty little representation of a little German girl. On the> whole the exhibition is satisfactory. Thereare not so many large and badly-drawn pieces»s in former years. The artists have learned to choose tub j acts within their scope, and have settled down to work in a steadier way. There are several whom we regret not to havenoticed, but we could not refer to all in a short: notice like this.