MR G. E. BUTLER'S PICTURES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13209, 16 February 1905, Page 10

MR G. E. BUTLER'S PICTURES.

| T!io artistic community ot this city will ' suffer no little loss at the end of tlio month in the departure for the Old Country of. .Mr George E. Butler, the well-known artist, i whose intention it is to puisv.e his calling ! in tlio wider field offering in the HomeJam). Since Mr Butler settled in Dunodin, something over four years ago, after a lengthy period of ftudy in London and Antwerp, he has gained many friends and admirers among those to whom an interest i in art is real, and the number of admirable ! examples of his work that have been fre- ! quontly set l>efoie the public have been ' ample testimony to his skill, versatility, and ; exceptional industry. After the acceptance of Mr Butler's picture at last year's Koyat ''Academy, tlio artist received a hearty letter of congratulation from Mr Alfred East, 01:0 of tlio most prominent, of English landscape painters, and Mr Butler's personal friend, and Mr East strongly recommended him to como to the- Old Country, which advice Mr Butler .not unwillingly is following. Mv Butler's pictures have found more than a local appreciation, for he was -last year commissioned by the Government to paint Waimangar Geyser for the St. Louis Exhibition, and he lias only now returned from Milford Sound, where he has spent- five weeks in carrying out a commission from the Toil; Ist Department for two pictures of the sounds. Although the weather was much of it bad, Mr ButJer was, in the time at his disposal, naturally able to secure many pictures and sketches,- anct these, with some oilier excellent examples of Mr Butler's work, arc now on view at Messrs M'Cormick and Pugli's, Rattray street. Including sketches, between 40 and 50 examples of Mr Butler's work are shown—some previously exhibited, : but many new. A. particularly taking pic- ' taro has been mado of tlio subject " Mount Cook from Lake Pukaki," and the sehcino of colouring is most happy; while again "A Vet Day, Milford," a couple of pictures of Mitro Peak, "Mount Pembroke," "Mount Harto and Lake Miutaw," "West Coast Scene," " Clinton River," " Milford Sound," "Walter Peak, Wakatipu," and "Giant's Gate, Milford Sound Track," are, among othore, all very interesting pictures treated in the artist's typical style. Of Mr Butler's other -pictures, most, noteworthy perhaps are -the .oharming figure study entitled "The Violinist," another entitled " The Widow," and landscapes and seascapes such as "Tlio Lagoon, Outran)," " Caitle Rock. Brighton," " Low Tido, Brighton," "A Winter's Evening," and "Marshland." Some of the artist's small uhframed sketches in oil and water-oolours of tlio sounds arc partioularly pleasing and effective. Picture-lovers should not_-faii to take advantage of this opporlast' they are likelv to have here—of inspecting a representative collection of work by .Mr Butler, -which, as indicated, will in tho present- ca=o much more than repay, inspection. Two large and interesting pictures are al*o now on view at 'Messrs. M'Cormick and Push's rooms, these being the work of Mr 11. S/Power, a rising Adelaide artist.. There are. both.studies of. horses,, evidently'a subject in which the-artist specialises, and are conspieuous'for their fine colouring and glow-, mg effect of sunlight. These pictures are well worthy of inspection.