EXHIBITION OF PICTURES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11675, 7 March 1900, Page 8

EXHIBITION OF PICTURES.

Mr Albert Hanson, who visited New Zealand from New South Wales last year, andj placed on view in Dunedm a number of his paintings, which were much admired, one work with the title of '. '." Unmoored Cloud Galleons" being ; purchased by the trustees of the: Pub-' lie.: Art Gallery, and added ,to ~ the, collection . :in the' Museum building, 1 is back in Dunedin, and /has •'-. again opened an exhibition of. his pictures in,'Mr D: Scott's gallery in Princes street. Opinions may differ as to whether the collection now available for inspection is superior to that exhibited by Mr Hanson last year, but upon the.merits of this year's pictures there is no room for difference of opinion. There are no fewer than 50. of them. Only one pf these is painted hvo'ilsyMr Hanson having a preference for the mbre'delicater medium of water-colour, in which more than 40 of these works are executed, the balance being pen and ink sketches. For hissubjects Mr Hanson has impartially gone to both Australia and New Zealand. Landscapes and.:sea: . pieces form the bulk of the collection, but there : are three examples of figure painting, of which ■ the highest-priced is one styled " Sweet Marie." Many people will prefer " Spring," which is a charming study. Upon each of them, however, Mr Hanson has plainly bestowed a great deal of pains, and the. result may-not unf airly be said to be commensurate wilh the care taken by the artist in the execution of his work.. The chef d'eeuvre of the present collection is a large picture of " The New Soutli Wales Coast at Narraboen." This is a, luminous, skilfullytreated work, in whicli the :swirl of the,water) as it rushes and eddies at the foot of the cliffs as tlicy rise ■ abruptly from the wash of the ocean, is cleverly depicted, and there'is a:nice perspective also in the prospect from tlie coast: Mr Hanson's ability to present. vivid colour contrasts, which yet are free from the'suggestion of incongruity, is strikingly illustrated:in several of his works, and others.are painted in a scheme of the most pleasing harmony.. The-* exhibition, generally, is one that art lovers will experience pleasure in visiting. Not the least interesting feature of it is the black and-white work, three specimens of ivhich are devoted tt the execution of book-plates.