NOTABLE PICTURES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3610, 22 May 1923, Page 27

NOTABLE PICTURES.

LONDON, May 13. One of Mr Augustus John’s paintings, -which have been on exhibition at the Alpine Club Gallery, has been purchased for over £4090, in dramatic circumstances. It is called “La Suggia,” and is a portrait of a famous Italian ’cellist of that name. She is shown in an evening gown, playing an instrument. The picture, which is full of life and musical expression, is regarded as one of John’s greatest works. An American was at Monte Carlo when he heard that it was to be exhibited, and hastened to Paris, going thence by aeroplane to London. lie went straight to the gallery, fearing he would be too late to buy the picture. After the purchase he spent the whole day in and out of the gallery, fascinated with the picture. ’Jo states that he never met the original. The name of the purchaser is kept a strict secret, because he fears that his father would disinherit him for extravagance if he knew the price paid ; so after the exhibition the picture will be hidden until he can show it among other works bv the same artist that he possesses. ARTIST’S REMARKABLE PAINTING. LONDON, May 7. Orpen’s picture, “An Unknown British Soldier,” is the most discussed work at the Academy. He was asked to paint three pictures of tho Peace Conference for the Imperial \A':ir Museum. He finished two of them, and then spent nine months painting a group of 40 statesmen and others in the Great Hall of Versailles, but, somehow, Orpen says, "1 could not go on. It all seemed so far from reality as I saw it at the front. I kept thinking of the soldiers who remained in France for ever. So I rubbed out the statesmen and oth.er leaders who are said to have won the war, and painted the collin of tho Unknown, guarded by two dead comrades.