EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS

Colonist, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5898, 3 September 1890, Page 5 (Supplement)

EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS

An exhibition of paintings, chiefly of New Zealand Flowers, &a, was opened in the Shalbonrne street Schoolroom on August 14, and during the day the exceedingly interesting collection v/as 7iew.-d by very many. Miss Harris showed a great number of paintings of alpine and other rare flowers, as we'l as many of a more common description, though none the leas beautiful perhaps, and the interest which attached to the pio turea ag paintings was greatly enhano>dby the opportunity afforded of examining such admirable representations of flowers only tj be ppen in thrir native soil after so stiff a olimb that they are practically without the reach of most people. Oae of the mo-st admired of the p iintiDgß stood on an c isel upon the small stage, and represented the seed panicle and seed of the Ti Toi, commonly called the mountain cabbage tree. The tree itself is rare, and a3 it grows in localities seliom visited when the seed is ripe the picture presents a new study, and the beautiful blue of the mass of seeds pseping from their covering makes an effective picture, and the study haa b^en well treated. Other pictures of the mountain cabbage and of the nai nai ia blossom also olaimed much attention. A painied soreen of three panels, which stands near the former, claims admiration. With a few effective sprays of lycopoiium and of ferns, the native clematis, convolvulus, and la^ewood flowers are eff actively reproduced. A study in sepia of tetoki berries and coavolvu us blossoms should not be overlooked. Several table tops, on which floral subjects are painted, attraot the notice of visitors, as also do a number of panals. The paintings of scarlet and yellow rata are very effeotive, and some groups of flowers admirably arranged and faithfully represented are certain not to be overlooked. Amoag these flo sers the Chatham Island forget-me-not is prominent. Two studies, the " Voice of Morning," and " the Silver Eye'B Nes ," have been shown before. Amongst the more rare subjects treated by Mies Harris may be mentioned primula from Mount Egmont, the Maori sacreJ lily iengarenga, a selmesia, the blanket-like appearaooe of the under leaves being skilfully reproduced, the Mount Cook lily, the senecio bee tori, the tainui blossom* (obtained at Mokau), rananculus from Mount Egmont, and some orchids. A mantle diape worked in dlk, with flowers of the red kowhai served to show how admirably adapted are our New Zealand flowers for the purposes of Buch deaorative work. Mias Ellen Harris exhibited a number of paintings, amongst which may be specially noticed those enti led " Pass Puss," " The Threa Chorister Boys," some chrysanthemums, and painted panels with rata and mistletoe. Amongst the exhibits by Miss Frances Harris three entitled " Refreshment by thn way," " Innocents abroad," and " Hia very best," claimed moat notice perhaps. Space does not admit of reference being math here to more than a few of the paintings, but the exhibition aj a whole is a vety interesting one, ani should be visited by all who have any love for the beautiful. From a a educational point of view, these pictures oughtrnb be studied by the children, ia whom there should exist a love for thef flowers of their native land.