OTAGO ART SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2541, 26 November 1902, Page 14

OTAGO ART SOCIETY.

ANNUAL EXHIBITION. First Notice. In the course of his s>pe. j ch at the opening of the present exhibition the President of the Art Society (Mr G. Joachim) referred to the advisableness of raising the standard of the works to be accepted, and there is much to be said in favour of this course. For instance, it would be idle to deny that, although the collection of pictures this year is above the average, there are not a few whicTi are scarcely worthy of the place they occupy on the walls. This is especially the case- in, regard to the oil paintings, and in deciding on the merits or demerits of the contribution's it is necessary for the critic to in a. measure diversify the standpoint from which he judges. Professional artists such as Mt Butler and Mr Goldie, who have received a Continental training and who have studied in the best schools, must be criticised by a higher standard than would be applied to tho majority of our local painters, who do not as a rule aspire to bo more than amateurs. These latter should be judged les9 from the actual quality of the work produced than from the promise shown that they will be able to do something belter in the future. This is the course we intend to pursue in our notices of the exhibition.

Following the order of the catalogue, the first picture that call for attention is No. 3, *' Italian Girl," by Miss Molly Sale, a clever sketch of a model, showing careful drawing and good colour. In close vicinity will be found two email studies by Miss Grace Joel (Nos. 5 and 7), neither of which i€ worthy of the artist, who should not forget that even ihe flimsiest sketch demands a certain •jn,ount of finish. In "A Glade" (No. 6) Mr Leslie Smith has ehoseu a difficult subject that is evidently beyond his powers. The colour i« muddy throughout, and there is an entire lack of luminosity, while the foliage has nose of the feathery lightness characteristic of the willow. ''Half -moon Bay, Stewart Island" (No. 10). by Mr C. H. Howorfch, is a clever piere of work, the pff«»ct being gained by broad, touches, and the clear atmosphere of that part oi the colony is wsll conveyed. * Kai Fapa. ' (No. 141 i:th© first of tk* perie3 of Maori portraits which have been seni in by Mr C, F. Goldie, and m some respects it may }*» considered to be tho best. The artist has evidently carefully studied this interesting- type of the human race, and he has brought to Jis lask great artistic talent. It would be Impossible to overpraise the technical qualities of this picture' of an old Native- woman smoking a briar-root pipe, every wrinkle £ad fold of tv« fkitt being rendered with m,

precision which reminSs one of the PreRaphaelite painters. Equally life-like is the portrait of the Maori warrior. Patara teTahi (No. 21), in which the painting of the accessories, 6uch as the mat which envelops his shoulders and the greenstone ornament hanging round his neck, is particularly noticeable. No. 22, "A Quiet Moment on the Beach," by Mr W. Greene, may not possess any striking merit from an artietio point of view, but the picture is oue that appeals to the popular taste. It shows four donkeys, saddled oud ready for hire, on the sea beach, and the animals are carefully drawn, but the painting of the 1 background is somewhat thin. " 'Twixt the I Shower 3" (No. 2%), by Mbs G. Williams, is a fairly successful rendering of a watery day, but would have been improved if the artist had taken more* care in the paintiug of tho trees. Mt C. H. Howorth's study of a bush road, showing Mount Earnslaw in th& distance (No. 25), is raraewhat cold in colour, and more warmth in the shadows would have improved it, but otherwise it is a faithful transcript from Nature. Mr G. E. Butler's contributions to the annual exhibition are always a noticeable feature, and this year he has sent a number of works which will enhance hi 3 reputation as a painter. "An Italian Fisherman" (No. 29) is a study of a model that calls for not cc on. account of ite admirable technical qualities; and the same may be paid of his " Gentleman of the Fourteenth Century" (No. 3f). in which the drapery is> exceedingly well painted, although the effect of the picture is considerably marrad by the somewhat repulsive countenance of the sitter. Anything less like a "gentleman" of the fourteenth or any other century could scarcely be conceived. Mi?s M. M'Leod shows distinct promise in her " Study of a H<*ad " (So 32). in which tho drapsrv harmonise? well witl< the flesh tints; and Mias M. Flocktcu's "Fortune Teller" ("So. 34) js solidly nninted and good in colour. Mr A. S. Wooc'i'= !ais<> tpycnyie. "'A TJcugh Ocier of t'-» Coa-i " (No. *2). would have bfen greatly imprmrd had it been painted on a smaller t-cle There is n-niL-Ji tc. be commended in ihe ! rendering of the w.»vt»-form«. winch !ia<c! evidently bc?n carefully studied, but tl.s j oomVtCMttGi? of the p. r Lure is faulty on ' account of the- too srr<»ii. '.iroi-tinp^ro of thr-rctk-s ,n the forfgionnH. Tlip iv.aterul- i '•: it go tc the lr.akjuer of Mr BuiJf'-, l"i.il ci '. ' "The Lasroou. Tnnm'-awk " (Xo 4i). a <-- of the 'simplest — a shoei of water Jiounck-c! lup p orsing bnutk o<i nbi.-a a lior-v» i- gracing: but it is evce'lenfciy trea'ed. top \a'nr-, of thf tones beiup: well prc-frved M « I]. EnmiUon's "Study of an Old Man ' (No. 46) is not without nitric iv regard id colour but the c?ra\vii:p cf the hrncls m fr>f>ble» while the same lady's " A We'eomp'' (61) is eec&ntrjp »s — composition, altho".s ! i the hor.-e's head k not badly painted. Mr Joka Gjbb't •" iia&teilv Br«ese. Suika EsUf 1

insula" (54) is conventional in its method, j but shows the practical haud of an experienced artist, although his other contribution (£2), a -tudy of a heavy wave breaking on a rock, is superior as a work of art It is not easy to see why Misi Joel has called her picture "Saint Tasie"' (63), as there is nothing approaching the devotional in it, being simply a portrait of a French peasant girl. The face is carefully modelled and painted broadly, and cm the whole may bo regarded as an admirable specimen of the artist's talent. Among the younger members of the society, none have shown more distinct signs of improvement than Miss D. Rcss, and the rendering of animal life in "A Bush Nursery" (631, a group of three rabbits, is both original in conception and well carried out. The anatorm' of the -little animal. 1 : may not be above suspicion, | but the handling i-; firm and the colour i bright and effective. Mr Butler's " Quiet 1 Waters" (69) is the most important landscape he has tent this year, and is certainly one- of tho b^st works we have seen j from his brush. The view is taken from the neighbourhood of the Tomahawk, and nothing could be better tl>sn the painting of the gorse-clad hill, vi the full sunlight of a summer's day, and the reflections in the pool in which the cattle are cooling themselves are rendered with great skill. Mr W. S. Melvin show? careful and conscientious work in his small cam as of "Lake Wanaka, Glen Dhu" (72). but the painting is somewhat hard and the brown r'.oud in the sky appears unnatural. Mr Goldie's Maori portraits (73 and £9) have the same merits which are apparent in the studies already noticed, although tho subjects arc perhaps not so interesting. In spite of tho monotono^nef£ in the colour, (he small sketches of North Island scenery by Mr E. W. Pay ton. of Auckland (74 aiid £4), posses* considerable merit, the snnse of quiet 6ohtudo being well convoyed, albeit, thfv rcarcely strike one as bemqj paintod dirprt from Naturp. Mr W. MfM7zies Gibb's large canvis " Fading Litrht" (77) ip a good specimen of this artist's style, ft ohow-3 ji quiet road through a lugoon, tMui a strofc-h of sandhills in tho (ii-tancp. r'ne subdued light of the dyVig <iiy Mtfftising tbe whole landscape. Tlie o'rVct ha, hern carefully studied, and the ]•..' turo- is pVo.-aut to look at. From S; d- > \-, Difi'Js Kubbo h-i- se-n*~ t^ro fiiju'"<* -u'-or-e'- ' X--op' ; ran Pr^^nt" (76) rr>?l 4 Mlnies " (Sc.l, of y.M.i the latter, ? girl i» P'asfoin c'ie~-s ice'iuiiv; on a couch, its f'i*» bettor, • riciicale- scliTQe of colour 1...:i^ vf 11 ci-:.. <! o-a^ T ; ie ybce of iic.-'our or. the m!! v.s r.r3 dealing with !-. -.vcrthily cocunip'! b'* Mr B«f.-er"s hp]f'fnsrtli portrait of a lady in a dark dr".=s. Roth as regards the face aiid the drapery this iei c ?. aucce^^ful piece of work, and shows the artist at his bc-t, tho flesh painting beiua especially good. r £h9 e^ffifi xtaiotec'i

"The Market Girl" (94) is certain to attract much attention, and is evidently a reminiscence of his European experiences. It depicts a Belgian peasant in the quaint costume of her native country presiding over a stall on which are seen poultry, vegetables, and fruit. These latter accessories are rendered with wonderful realism and fidelity to Nature. Mr W. Greene's "After the Toil of the Day" (85) is_ a rural scene, showing two horses drinking at a pond. The same careful painting that wa3 exhibited in the artist's other picture is observable in this case, but he certainly succeeds better in his rendering of animals than he does with the human figure, which is decidedly weak. Among the most notable features of the exhibition, is undoubtedly the portrait (100) by Miss Molly Sale, a scholarly piece of work that reflects great credit on the artist. Miss Sale had an admirable s\ibject to deal with, and,, she has treated it in a masterly manner. The modelling of the head and the depicting of the marked characteristics of the sitter are beyond praise, while the forcible painting of the hands shows the well-traiined and capable painter. The small sketch of an old woman (112), which hangs close by, is another noteworthy specimen of Miss Sale's talents. In marked contrast to the pictures we have just referred to is the garish and over coloured portrait (113) by Mr Leslie Smith. The contrast between the lower part of the facs and the deep shadow oast by the hat which the model is wearing is over-emphasised, and the result is a. picture which may be taken as a- striking example of the meretricious in art. Mr J. Kilgour's little work which he entitles " The Morning Post" (104), is deserving of notice for the excessive care that the artist has displayed in the painting of the smallest details. The figure of the girl reading the letter is not very graceful, and it may be questioned whether the subject is one that deserves so much labour being expended upon it ; but, however that may be, the artist deserves credit for the skill and industry he has devoted to his work. There still remain several oil paintings to be reviewed, and these, together with the collection of water-colours, will be dealt with in future notices of the exhibition.