ART AND ARTISTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2808, 8 January 1908, Page 82

ART AND ARTISTS.

— One of the successes at this year's Academy was "Valparaiso Bay — Sunset," hung on the line in the Gem Room. It was painted by Mr A. Helsby, a " Chilian Pensionnaire," sent to Europe by the Go vernment of his country to increase his knowledge of art. This gentleman is holding an interesting "one man show" at the Dickinson Galleries, New ' Bond street, while in Pari6 and London "nis brush has not been idle, and in addition to his pictures of Chili, with their rich colouring, there are one or two from Paris, and several clever water-colours of the Thames at Richmond, bits of Kew Gardens, and even a picturesque nook at Brentford, more notorious to Londoners for the grimness of its aspect as seen when passing through. — P.T.O.

— The excavations and -ruins disclose the fact that centuries ago Pompeii was one of the most powerful and imperialistic of Italian cities. The museums in Pompe'i and Naples show that beautiful statues were plentiful in Pompeii ; they adorned the houses, the streets, and the temples. The Tempi© of Apollo was adorned with a statue of Apollo and a Diana in bronze that surmounted the arch. A magnificent bust of Jupiter was taken from the temple dedicated to that god. The most famous of the bronzes is the Dancing Faun, found in the streets of Nola, and the Satyr, in the "house of the Centenaire. The Faun represents the joy of life, sustained by physical strength. The other shows a young Satyr pouring water from' a beaker. Every lino of the body shows ease and grace. The same artistic touches were given to the bronze and silver dishes, vases, and lamps. Some were shaped in the form of faces, others were decorated with richest embossing 1 . The house of Pansa, the poet, is sufficiently well - preserved to show how beautiful Pompeii was before it suffered, destruction. The House of the Rich Man was the largest private house in, Pompeii. It is hard to imagine anything more splendid than the great Stabian Baths, adorned with marble and mosaics, so large they could accommodate hundreds at a timp. In keepinar with this splendour are the ruins of the Forum, temples, the theatres, and the gladiatorial barracks.