THE ART GALLERY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2059, 10 August 1893, Page 34

THE ART GALLERY.

Our pnblio v art 'g4llery y has just received ; another important' addition, Mr Van der Velden's flue landscape, which, as our reader ' . will remember, formed the. chief attraction of' the last Art Society's exhibition, having' been placed on the wi)ls. The subject of the picture is simple/and it repr'eEents a mountain torrent ' ■. pouring doWn.a^oqdecl ravine. We understand ' the scene is ' the "Otira,i>r some tributary of (hit . famous riyer. l:TheJtharaoteristic features are-, rendered in a masterly manner and with -great technical skill< : ' At the first glance the picture ,, appears to lack the brilliance wejare apt to look for in our local landscapes, bat after few < - minutes' -.gazs-'lhei eye becomes aware of -a i delicate, ..almost,. frabtW .j expression of .colour , which pervades' the whole subject and gives it its great charm; yltypß evidently. been a close '„ study, of, naturexdndet*the r influence of a dull ' day's gray tongs.;;- The\wa^ter^-n6t befouled, a» '■ so . many of our .inlati^ Btyreams. are/ with the ,' , refuse and wtshcoiifc pfihe miner's claim— leaps '< and" tumbles alpng^ ins'tsjipulder bed pure arid ' unsullied, fresh frorn'the virgin snows of some . hidden alpine range",? and so deftly -has. the, < artist caught aWd reproduced the spirit of - motion that the spectator- almost seemi to , hear the liquid {-firasiej of the rushing . torrent as it r falls r< towards' him." It is boldjy painted,: but-, every stroke of the brußh has' been made to the purpose. The work 'should prove"; of great benefit to our . art btudehts, &»}, it wilt show them that with artistic skill ond; careful observation of natural , • effects an'l objects pibCnrcs may be made of , the ~ f simplest- .subjects. - ]$ Van der Velden is "an . artist who, with, hisifamily, has within tho - last few years settled' in New Zealanil— in the , very big -p'rovjriceVof "Canterbury. , He enjoyed, N ha considerable '■'reputation in Holland as a| painter of landscape, and genre 'subjects,';, one of His picliures - having been . purchased '. by Itoei State r:.!tor>j T the Royal. Gallery, at : the Hague. rTho'se of our readers who , remember his fine, oqllecti.on 'of .studies and . sketches at the'; fast «khibition will agree with, ,- < us in saying tha^^e'-have in him an artist of , consummate' skill, ' and^ one. whose work will reflect credit upon any, collection, pnblio -^or-, private; The picture under notice Ib the pro- . perty of the Qtago Art" Society, which, is tobe . . commended for securing 'so fine, a work. . ", It was , the theme' of admiration' of a large .crowd of", persons who visited the Gallery on Saturday , and Sunday last/./ „/ ' -'••-,' t ■