EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15822, 22 July 1913, Page 7

EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS.

MISS HODGKINS'S PICTURES. A collection of pictures from the brush of Miss Francos Hoagluns, who has been prosecuting her studies in the Old Country and has spent a considerable portion of the time she lias been absent from New Zealand in Paris, was on exhibition in the Art Gallery yesterday. When Miss llodgkim left Dunedin she had already established a reputation as an artist of merit, and it is evident irom an inspection of the works .on the walls of the Art Gallery Hall that sho has made very great advances in her art.

The Mayor' (Mr W. Downio Stewart) opened the exhibition in the afternoon, and in tho course of (some brief remarks expressed the pleasure it gave him to perform the opening ceremony and to also welcome Miss Hodgkins back to Dunedin—(hear, hear)—after tho great success she had attained in the Old Country. Miss Hodgkins had earned a reputation in New Zealand as a painter in water-colours, and had ventured' upon a difficult task in going away to the Old Country to win her way to a place among tho ranks of artiste in art centres there. They knew that she had been singularly _ successful in her effort both on the Continent, and in England, and the people of Dunedin had good reason to be extremely proud of what Miss Hodgkins had accomplished. She had established herself in Paris, and had there built up a school, or academy, of her own which had been very successful, and had returned to Dunedin merely for the purpose ol -paying a visit to her old home. Those who had read the Australian papers would know of the phenomenal success Miss Hodgkins had met with. Her worth had there been recognised as of a very high standard, and she .had dovcloped an individuality in her work, that was always in evidence.

Mr D. E. Theomin, speaking as one of the Art Gallery trustees, thanked the Mayor for attending to open the exhibition, and said an effort • would bo made to capture some of Miss Hodgkins's pictures for the local gallery.

The collection exhibited by Mia Hodgkins contains over 40 pictures, and from a remark dropped by the Mayor there are still a few piotures to be added. About half, the number on tho walls are figure studies, and in her treatment of these Miss Hodgkins excels, but there is nothing in the collection that is not entirely creditable to Miss Hodgkins ae an artist. In landscape work the pictures are for the most part of Continental subjects, and the scenes, which vary very considerably, have been very ably handled. Mi6s Hodgkins's colouring is at all times good, and she seems to condemn the'fa-irly common practice of a too liberal use of bright colour for prcttiness' sake, without regard to fidelity. It is not alone in her selection of colour that Miss Hodgkins's artistic taste is plainly apparent, lor : tho hand of the artist is quite equally noticeable in the brush-work that follows. And, whether the subject requires bold and vigorous treatment, or icfined and delicate handling, Miss Hodgkins's work always stands close and critical inspection. It is possibly iii figure study th.it Ife Hodgkins particularly excels, and most of such studies now on exhibition are full of action. The drawing, grouping, and posing in her figure work is exceptionally good, and an instance of this is met with_ in "The Hill Top," where a party of ladies, having reached tho summit of tho hill, have decided upon a rest and havo'assumed an easy abandonment of attitude that is strikingly effective. Another notable .picture is " April," which is also a figure study, and there is included in the collection a very fine picture entitled " Tho Black Scarf." Tho collection is now open for inspection, and is well worth seeing even by those without imv strong bent in the direction of this branch of art.