PICTURES FROM THE EXHIBITION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13856, 20 March 1907, Page 4

PICTURES FROM THE EXHIBITION.

It is a certain fact that whatever regret will attend the closing of the 'Exhibition will with many be not. least associated with the disappearance; of tlio particularly fine collection of pictures upon which so many thousands have gazed, with delight and admiration, and which have been, we trust, the artistic revelation they should have been to a rising colonial generation. But the permanent collections of other centres are to be enriched by choice blooms gathered from this evanescent pictorial garden, and the expenditure of generous sums Ims not been begrudged in the desire to acquire a few treasures of art. The colony as a whole will therefore retain some tangible- artistic benefit from the Exhibition Gallery, Unfortunately, circumstances have conspired to leave Dunedin decidedly out in the cold in this matter of the acquisition of pictures, however much we may have envied the Canterbury and Wellington Art Societies the happy financial position that put valuable works within their reach. The question of the possible acquisition of pictures from the Exhibition Gallery for Dunedin has been previously discussed. It will be remembered that the hope which we expressed some little time back that, notwithstanding the noble assistance which our wealthier citizens have rendered lately to the accomplishment of objects designed in the interests of the public, they would not allow the opportunity to slip past of securing as a- permanent acquisition for Dunedin a representation of the admirable works of British art in the Exhibition, was the immediate precursor of a generous offer on the part of a Dunedin citizen to i donate £50 towards this end provided that nineteen others would give a like or larger subscription. Unfortunately that offer failed to evoke the response desired, for the reason largely, it may be conjectured, that the tried generosity of the citizens of Dunedin had of late been somewhat severely tested. As for the local bodies particularly interested in art, the Otago Art Society and the Art Gallery Trustees, their laudable aim has been to cany successfully through the project of providing a fitting building for the housing of the pictures already in their possession, and this considerable undertaking; has naturally somewhat exhausted their resources. Consequently the prospect that anything at all would be done in tho way of securing a picture or two from, the Exhibition collection to help adorn the spacious new gallery now in course of erection in this city had bscomo decidedly remote. It is most gratify* ing, therefore, to find that the opportunity in this direction still offering is hardly likely to be entirely lost after all. '.fho Otago Art Society has initiated a movement which, !f it gets the support it deserves, should provide the wherewithal for the purchase for the Dunedin Gallery of a picture or two well worth making nn effort to secure. The substantial donation with which the Art Society has started a- picturepurchase fund has, as reference to another column will show, already received some generous support from public-spirited vsilizens, and wo trust that others will come forward quickly in such a way that the fund will attain reasonable proportions. If a suitable sum can be raised it. would be an easy matter to find still undisposed of in the' Exhibition Gallery, pictures the possession of which By the city s.-.-u!d amply repay the outlay. Because it is too late now for Duiwdin to attemptto make an effort for the acquisition of pictures on an ambitious scale is no reason why a compact fund should not be yet speedily raised and an effort on a modest and practical scato bo mado with every success. Biit what is to be done must be done speedily, as the last days of the Exhibition are not far distant. The Otago Art Society has now set on foot a movement which will give all an opportunity of contributing, however modestly, to the success of a picture-purchase scheme which contains possibilities in proportion to the support it receives. Tho new .Art Gallery is going to be a credit to this city, and if the generosity of any citizen of Dtmedin were to stir him about tin's time to present to it one of tho admirable works of art now hang-' inp; on tlio walls of the" Exhibition Gallery the endowment would form a most welcome and auspicious inauguration of its career.