AN ARTIST AND HIS WORK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2762, 20 February 1907, Page 49

AN ARTIST AND HIS WORK.

It is rarely indeed that Dunedin people enjoy seeing the work of a really good portrait painter. We perhaps enjoy art most when it expresses the things that we know, since even the ruddiest Philistine among us feels his capacity to criticise. That being so, it is much to be regretted that the public cannot enjoy the pleasure of seeing some very fine examples of portraiture just completed by Mr Sydney Thomson, of Christchurch. Mr Thomson has been for some weeks occupied in executing commissions in Dunedin, notably a most admirable portrait of Mrs George M'Lean. Apart from its incontestable merit as a piece of exquisite colour and fine technique, this portrait mentioned is an example of striking characterisation. It may be objected that the pose is just a trifle stiff, but there can be no two opinions as to the great beauty of the scheme of colour, which runs through a most agreeable harmony of delicate greys, relieved with the creamy softness of some feminine fripperies and thrown up by the touch of colour which gleams from the bodice. The background to the three-quarter-length figure, though effective, is entirely subservient to the accentuation of a portrait which aims at the realisation of individuality, expressed with the true ai list's conception of colour and mastery of technique. Sonic other portraits of ladies well known to our little community display Mr Thomson's fine sense of colour, no less than his ability to seize a likeno-s, in a very happy manner. One, which might be called "the lady with the carnations." embodies an exceedingly beautiful scheme of colour, in which the light on the foreground, the diaphanous draperies of the over-drovi. the cluster of Malmaison carnations lying loosely in the lap, and the extreme distance of the background vista wave a peculiarly sunny web of colour -fthich runs from lemon \el'ow to the bloom of rich apricot. This portrait, alto, is t Inee quarter length. The thud example is the mere bust of a v-oung gnl whose rippling brown hair i 3 relieved with great cleverness by the dull. ennr-on background, which also throw's up the transparent texture and delicate tone of the cloudy blue draperies from which the flesh tones emerge with such warmth and softness. More than the interest of mere successful portraiture attaches to the first-named poi trait of this little group — that of Mrs G. M'Lean. As most people are aware, the succe=sful carrying out of the project for a proper Art Gallery in Dunedin is largely duo to the untiring efforts and splendid enthusiasm displayed by Mrs M'Lean. As some slight recognition of her efforts it was decided by a number of those most keenly interested in the Art Gallery project to subscribe towards a really good portrait of Mrs M'Lean to be presented to the Art Gallery as a graceful recognition of services which the future will render more apparent. The commission was given to Mr Thomson, and in due time the public will have the opportunity of gauging hia success. Mr Thomson left on Saturday for Christchurch.

The cockroach is a native of Asia, but it was taken to America, where many fine specimens arc to be found. They grow to enormous lengths, some being from 3in to sia long.