SOME ART NOTABLES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2623, 22 June 1904, Page 68

SOME ART NOTABLES.

( Those who^ are taking advantage of Mr G. F. Watts's permission to visit the private gallery of his works, which ho has so kindly thrown open, will be proud of having done so. It is not vouchsafed to many men to see their position in art defined Viith a clearness such as marks this veteran's standing, but even in his case it will reniain to posterity to oxalt his work to a higher pcclestal than it now occupies. Some day it will be a great thing to bo able to boast of having met the great master of this era.

As Gainsborough lay dying he turned to Reynolds, to whom he had been that hour reconciled. '"We aie all going to heaven," hi said, "and Vandyke will be of the company." It was a beautiful thought, and one which will recur to many a mind with the name of G. F. Watts substituted. Tin:* autumn of the life of the Apostle cf Religion and Simplicity, as he is called, is in striking contrast to 'that of some other painters. Tlie olosing scenes of Laudseer's life, for example, were dreadful.

One who L?ft him as the doors of tho lunatic asylum closed for the 'last time upon him, hais recorded the cense of horror left upon his mind by the sight of tho demented genius. "His face haunts me still ; the rheumy eyes, tlie slobbering mouth, fallendown cheeks and chin, and the terrible leer, with a kind of beaten-hound look in it."— London Evening News.