MISS HODGKINS'S-ART UNION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11922, 21 December 1900, Page 5

MISS HODGKINS'S-ART UNION.

There is at present to be seen at Mr David Scott's shop in Princes street a very interesting collection of pictures by the late Mr W. M. Hodgkins. Mrs Fielcl and Miss Hodgkins, which Miss Hodgkins proposes to dispose of by art union. The fact that the works are from the brushes of artists of such high standing is sufficient guarantee of their excellence, and little neecl be said of them in this respect. The collection, in all, numbers JO pictures, and with the exception of three by Mrs Field and two by the late Mr Hodgkins, they are all the products of Mids Hodgkins's artistic labours. The two pictures by Mr Hodgkins—" Off Puysegur Point" and "In Southland "—are thoroughly characteristic of bis style, the former being a view of an exceedingly-pretty bit of coastal scenery, showing the Puyscgur light-. houso nnd the northern entrance to Preservation Inlet. Of Mrs Field's pictures " A Mountain Pefik" and "A Country Bond " will immediately attract attention. It is difficult to pick and choose in Miss Hodgkins's pictures. They are all of a. very high order, and a, series of Maori studies will especially commend themselves to lovers of art. These are not only valuable on account of their artistic treatment, but also as portraying characteristic types of the Natives and of features in their manners, customs, and racial habits. Of these pictures, tho principal arc: "In a- Potato Field" at Puketeraki. "A Maori Belle," "Maori'Women Making Flax Bass," and " In a Maori Dugout." Two pencil sketches, and some pretty little landscapes are also deserving of mention as being particularly excellent examples of Miss Hodgkins's undoubted skill. Altogether it is only on very rare occasions that such a high class collection of pictures is disposed of by art union, and tho opportunity of speculating 5s on the chance of securing one of the works should certainly be availed'of by nil lovers of art.