THE ART SOCIETY'S EXHIBITION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2436, 21 November 1900, Page 71

THE ART SOCIETY'S EXHIBITION.

SOME OF THE PICTURES. No. I. A walk through the Otago Art Society's gallery for the purpose of making a closer inspection of this year's pictures is sufficient to confirm the opinion already given regarding the all-round merit of the exhibits, and there is some ground for the feeling that the painter's art is advancing in this colony in a way that augurs well for the future. Commencing with the oils, the first picture to attract attention is " A Wild Rose " (90).This is a study of a girl's face, from the brush of Miss M'Leod. The features are rather %yell drawn, and there is an unrestrained gleam of merriment in the eyes, which, combined with smiling lips and the air of abandon depicted on the face, makes rather a charming picture ; but the general effect is spoiled by the heavy pink sunbonnet and, a blouse of the same colour. Miss M'Leod has done better work in " Margaret " (105), another study of a face. It represents a handsome woman, with a red cloak thrown .over her shoulders, and with a circlet of peark round her neck. Again there is little fault to be found m the way the artist has limned the oiitlines of the facft and-a .wistful expression in the eyes is well brought out. "Weary" (94-); is also by Miss M'Leod, and is a sketch of a girl resting her head" on a .cushion. A flower study (141*, entitled " Hollyhocks," is by the same artist. " Carnations " (95) is by Mrs L. W. Wilson. This lady has a number of flower studies in the exhibition — viz.,' " Cinerarias (134-), " Roses" (156^, "Pansies arid -Lilies" (195), and '-'Sunflowers " (211). Perhaps the best is 134. A nice panel of clematis (No. 98) is by Miss Statham. The popular native climber lends itself rather readily to this purpose, and is reproduced very naturally by Miss Statham's brush. This lady has several other flower studies on the wall, all of which show careful work. Two studies in still life (Nos. 119 and 129) are also her handiwork. Miss Alexander's only contribution to the gallery is "Autumn-tinted Vine Leaves"' (99). This is a remarkably good piece of work. The colours are beautifully harmonised, and it is the best combination of autumn lints 011 the walls. No. 97 (" Lake Ada, Milford Sound ") has already been referred to. A second inspection confirms the opinion that this picture deserves to rank witlv Mr L. W. Wilson's best work. It represents an arm of the picturesque Lake Ada.. In the foreground the calm water laps against a -sandy shore. To the left and right the native timber and bush are depicted with natural effect, and in the background the noble mountains of the locality rise up with tho grandeur characteristic of the Southern Alps. The subject is a imp one, and its treatment by Mr Wilson is thoroughly artistic' in every way. The foliage of the bush, the shadows on the water, the trailing wreath of mist on the mountain side, and the fine- atmospheric effect all combine" to make an admirable work of art. " Oranges " (100) is a panel, representing an orange bough with fruit and blossom, and is by Miss Neill, who also exhibits another flower study, " New South Wales Waratah '' (210). These compare favourably with the majority of the flower studies in the gallery. "Humbold Mountains" (103), by Miss Rit" chic, is another lake and mountain scene, but is too vague to be a good picture. It is somewhat after Mr Wilson's style, but lacks the tone of the latter artist's work. " Afterglow " (104), by Miss Bauchop. is a confused bit of colouring, without anything special to recommend it. " Daffodils " (107) is by Mrs Payne, and, although the flowers are rather stiff, the colouring is very natural. " A Fascinating Little Beggar — Sketch from Life " (108) is a good picture, from the brush of Miss E. T. Hamilton. The subject is a shaggy little terrier, sitting up. The dog is cleverly drawn, and the mischievous expression of the eyes is really good. No. 140, by the same artist, is a picture of Tomahawk Bridge, showing a boy in the foreground dragging a piece of seaweed. To those who know the spot the picture must be regarded as somewhat unconvincing 1 . No. 109 is an excellent study of a head ("Winifred"), by Miss Stephens. It depicts the face of a young girl, and is decidedly the best contribution this artist makes to the gallery. Her others are " Rose? — Marechal Niel" (125), "Brief Twilight" (135), "Townsville. North Queensland" (136), "Roseo in Sweet Disorder" (159), " Hinchin"brook Passage, North Queensland" (157), and "The Cre3t'of the Hill" (177). The best i< undoubtedly 159, and displays very careful ■work on the part of the artist. The tinting of the roses is very delicate. Miss Arndt sends a still-life study (110), which represents a writing table, several books, a pencil, and a bottle of ink. The picture is of the impressionist order, and_if judged by the canon that the function of art is to satisfy, it will be admitted that it falls short in this respect. Miss Ford" exhibits two excellent flower studies — "Clematis" (112) and "Wallflower "_ (138). Both are rather hackneyed subjects, but as long as they are so skilfully treated as this lady has shown herself capable of, nobody will feet tired of them. Aliss Ramsay makes a modest contribution in the form of a small study in roses. The blooms are very carefully painted. Miss L. M'Kay also sends a single flower study (116), representing two well-known varieties of geraniums. Like the previously-mentioned artist, there is promise of better work to come. Miss Mackie has sent half a dozen pictures to the exhibition. Taking them in their order, the first is a rather nice panel of Romneya coulteri. A seascape, "Forbury Head," the well-known headland at St. Clair, comes next. The water •has but little "life" in it, and, failing this, there is not much else to commend about the picture. Miss Mackie is more successful in Bier harvest scene at Glen Arcl (113). pourtraying a very natural -looking hayfield, with the eheaves in stook ; but the lady is evidently at Jier best when painting flowers. "When the Bloom is on the Tree," a scene, showing fruit trees in blossom, is too indefinite, and the same comment applies to "An Australian Sketch " (142). Mrs E. C. Reynolds exhibits several flower studies, two in clematis and one of japonica. These ore really good, and although it is seldom that one sees such a luxuriant bloom of japonica as the artist has transferred to her canvas, there is no fault to foe found with the result. "In Hagley Park " (1,01) is an autumn study, from the brush of Miss Mackeig. The best feature of the picture is the suggestion in the sky of the passing of autumn into winter. The season had evidently robbed the trees in the foreground of the best part of their foliage, and doubtless the bareness is in keeping with the impression sought to be conveyed. "A Grey •Day, Sumner," is another by the same artist, and represents a bit of sea beach between rocks, with a broad vista. of ocean in the background. Children are playing on the beach, and a headland shows up on the right. The treatment of the subject is a trifle crude. Mr E. W. Carrington has two pictures in the exhibition, and these are not up to his best xrork. "The Head of Dunedin Harbour"

(175) is more difficult to locate than one would imagine. " Showery Weather " (128) is rather a good piece of work. It represents a curve in a road, the surface partly covered with water bracken and a little bush to the left, and a glimpse of the sea in the distance. A rain-cloud which has just passed over is well done, and tone is given to the whole picture by a little dab of red, the frock of a child standing on the roadway. Mr E. B. Hayward's exhibit is limited to one picture (173), and, needless to say, this is a nautical subject. It shows several boats running free, in a scant breeze. The water is somewhat lifeless. "Dahlias" (120), by Miss E. W. Hill, looks rather artificial, but it is hung so high that it is difficult to get a fair view. "Late Autumn " (222) is by the same artist. The remainder of the oils will be dealt with in a future article.