THE LATE MR J. D. MOULTRAY'S PAINTINGS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15099, 23 March 1911, Page 4

THE LATE MR J. D. MOULTRAY'S PAINTINGS.

There is at present being BhcAvn at Mr Alex. Harris's rooms a largo and comprchonsivo series of oil paintings executed by tho late Mr J. Douglas Moultray, and on Tuesday of next week they will bo disposed of by auction. Thero aro 64 paintings on exhibition, and fully two-thirds of tho collection consist rf scenes painted' direct from Nature. All the pictures show the touch of the master hand, and are finished with tho attention to detail associated -3'ith tho work of the deceased artist, while tho colouring and .delicccy of treatment aro effected in a manner which goes to make up tho unity of the scenes depicted. In the canvas entitled "Sunset Glow" Mr Moultray .lias painted a sceno illustrating Turner's method o'f treatment, tho picture being a line contrast of warm and cold shades, while, in "Tacking" the artist has represented Colin Hunter's style. The latter canvas shows a picture of a vessel beating into tho wind, and is nicely treated and most naturally portrayed. No 6 ("Escaped")' shows a stag escaping to sanctuary, and l is painted in a low tone of colour, being practically a study in greys, while in the view of Libberton, Edinburgh, wo are shown ono of the artist's earliest efforts, it being painted some 40 years ago. The old Highland shieling and tho. sunlight being finciy reproduced'. No. 16 is a highly finished painting of Newark Castle, thoroughly characteristic of Mr Moultray's style, the finish and delicacy of the artist's brush' being at once apparent. No. 25 represents a Hood in tho Otira Gorge, with a fino rainbow effect—tho original sketch of the largo picture purchased by the art connonssiour (Mr John M. Cook, of London) in his tour round the world for £350. "In Milford Sound" has some beautiful cloud effects, while in tho large canvas "A Flood on the Waiwera"—the finest picture of those to be disposed of—the artist has Obtained a dark, sombre effect of the sunset over- tho flcoded river. This is a fino study, representing detail in shadow and fully illustrating tho fine workmanship of tho'artist. "A Reminiscenco of the Highlands" contains in its treatment subtlo combinations of colour and a fino sense of atmosphere. In addition to tho splendid array of pictures for sale, there arc'throe magnificent paintings fcr exhibition only) that entitled "Ben Cruachan" being a | splendid illustration of the patient, painstaking work and keen r.'bservption of I Nature of the successful artist. Lovens of I art should ortainly not mb> tiis oppnr- | tunity of scorns a oplendid collection of p&intutst!.