GEO. E. BUTLER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2545, 24 December 1902, Page 2 (Supplement)

GEO. E. BUTLER.

Mr Butler was born in Southampton, England, a picturesque old town, which has been the home of many English artists, and where Millais and Herkomer spent their boyhood. When only a boy of 12, Mr Butler's parents left Southampton for New Zealand, arriving in Wellington in the year 1884. Though always fond of drawing, he did not devote himself to the serious study of art until he had finished his general education, and at the age of 18 began to study under Mr L. Morison, of Wellington. It was while working in this studio that he first realised the seriousness_, as well as the difficulties, of art, and the enormous amount of hard work that must be gone through before he could hope to realise his ambition, and become a real painter. At the end of two years Mr Morison closed his studio, and this period, with the addition of a few quarters at the evening classes of the local art school, completed Mr Butler's training in New Zealand. Then came six long years of solitary work, when though often discouraged and cast down, he struggled on unaided, sketching from nature and working from lifej in a small studio which he had fitted up for himself. Early in 1898 his cherished dream of going to the Old Country to study became a reality, mainly, however, through his own efforts, and the occasional sale of pictures and sketches to those who already recognised the true artistic feeling apparent even in his early work. Like many another struggling man, Mr Butler shipped before the mast, partly for the sake of experience, but chiefly to economise the money that meant so much to him as representing proper training. On arrival in

to complete this special work, and the painting of the successful artist becomes the property of the State, and is hung in a gallery reserved for the purpose. At the presentation of the medal Mr Butler was crowned with a laurel wreath (still in his possession), this ancient custom being kept up in Antwerp. Also, greatly to the delight of his old Flemish landlady, if to his own discomfort, the local band serenaded his house the night before the ceremony. Among the many congratulatory letters which Mr Butler received on this occasion was one from the master of the Lambeth School, complimenting him on being the first Lambeth student to obtain this honour. Towards the end of 1900 Mr Butler returned to New Zealand. His first commission here was a portrait of Mr H. D. Bell, exMayor of Wellington, painted for the Council Chamber, which it sjill adorns. After holding exhibitions in Wellington and Christchuroh, our artist came to Dunedin, and since residing here, has opened a studio for the instruction of art students. He has also painted portraits of the ex-Mayors — Mr G. L. Denniston and Mr R. Chisholm — for the Dunedin Town Hall.

London, he set up his easel in the famous Lambeth School, where such men as Geo. Frampton, A.R.A., and Stanley Berkeley studied. Here our young colonial stayed over 12 months, and during that time was successful in gaining first prize for landscape ; also, in obtaining the maximum number of marks in a figure competition. In 1899 Mr Butler went to Paris and entered one of the well-known Julien Studios. There he studied under Professors Le Febvre and Fleury. The following year found him in Antwerp, hard at work in the Academic Royale dcs Beaux Arts, which has always been a favourite school with English artists, F. C. Gotch, F. Bramley, Napier Henry, and many others, more or less famous, having finished their art education there. Alma Tadema, who is a native of Belgium, also studied in Antwerp. Here, as a result of continuous hard work, under perhaps exceptional advantages, and the personal kindness shown by many of the professors, Mr Butler was able to carry off the much-coveted medal for painting from the living model at the annual Concours. This medal was competed for by over 60 students of all nationalities. A month is allowed the students