“THIRTY PERSONALITIES”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21829, 16 December 1932, Page 11

“THIRTY PERSONALITIES”

TWO NEW ZEALANDERS. (From Our Own Cokukstonugnt.) LONDON, October 11. Mr Wyndham Lewis, the writer, is also an artist. He has been known as an extreme experimentalist, but he has always practised side by side the arts of experiment and the arts of tradition. In July and August of this year he was busy with the art of tradition, and collected what he calls a “ big bag of 30 heads,” every unit of which is in some way remarkable. Among this collection of pencil portraits are two New Zealanders, both of whom have made their mark in a branch of art —Miss Marie Ncy, the actress, and Mr David Low, the cartoonist. The pictures hang to-day on the walls of the Lefcvre Gallery, and they provide a most interesting collection for those people who are keen about art, literature and public affairs. Here are the names of some of the “Thirty Personalities.” Augustus John, G. K. Chesterton, J. 15. Priestley, Viscount Rothermerc, Viscountess Rhondda, Rebecca West, G. B. Cochran. Wing-commander Orlebar, Anthony Asquith, Edith Evans. Nod C iward, Stella Benson, and Dr Meyriek Booth. It is in this gallery of celebrities that the portraits of the two New Zealanders are appropriately and justifiably to be found, and reproductions of the portraits are being sold for the modest price of two guineas. The artist admits they arc likenesses of the people. They one and all set out to be purely imitational. David Low is to be seen with hand covering the chin where a beard grew a few weeks infer, when lie was in Russia, He is more severe and serious than the pictures lie makes of himself in the Evening Standard. Those who know Miss Marie Ncy will admit that the portrait is not only a good likeness but a picture of some distinction.