At the Society of Arts Exhibition.

Observer, Volume XIV, Issue 794, 17 March 1894, Page 12

At the Society of Arts Exhibition.

Ai.l. things considered, our local artists have reason to be fairly well satisfied with the Fourteenth Annual Exhibition (which closed on Saturday). But, as we hinted laßt week, the exhibitors must not be content to rest on their oars. They have accomplished much ; but much remains to be accomplished. And several notable artists failed to exhihit at all. How was this P And we should also be glad to know how it came about that while many pictures of considerable merit were poked away in corners where no one could see them without much trouble, and then only imperfectly, daubs that ought, by rights, to have been relegated to the room set apart for the failures occupied firstclass positions on the walls of the mainhall.

Before we deal with the balance of the exhibits we would seize this opportunity of heartily congratulating Mr Prank Wright ou returning to his old love — the water-colour. As a water-colourist Mr Wright excels. But he should let oils severely alone. We must also congratulate Mr J. L. Holland, the indefatigable secretary of the Sooiety, upon the successful results of his unwearied exertions on behalf of the jßxhibition. The Society is fortunate in haying such a secretary. And now for —

59, ' Hoses.' Best bit of flower-painting in the show. But scheme of light and shade poor. A want of unity. 60, ' Eangitoto Channel.' Too leaden. Lacks transparency. This fault characterises most of this artist's work. 61, ' Sunset.' The poorest work exhibited by this artist this year. 62, 'Hawkesbury River.' Best of this artist's pictures on exhibition. But, nevertheless, too woolly. Sky dirty. 63, ' Chrysanthemums.' Splendidly drawn, but a want of light Flowers painted all alike. 61, 'Sunlight on the Manulsau.' Unnatural. 65, 'A Summer Day.' Not bad.

The Society offered a special prize for competition for the best head in oils or water-colours. Four amateurs competed. But no award was made, although the oilcolour exhibited by young 1 Crowther is fall of merit, and we cannot understand how or why the judges should have passed it by.

66, ' Weeds and Flowers.' An attempt at a difficult thing. Not bad, but too inky, Lacks transparency. 67, ' Teufel, study of Fox Terrier.' Inharmonious. Head of dog well drawn. 68, ' Ere Sun has Set.' Is this done in paint or cork ? Composition really good, but strong light cannot destroy local colouring. 69, ' A Quiet Suburb of Paris.' Very, very quiet ! Weak in every respect. 70, 'St. Helier's Bay.' Pretty sketch. 71, ' Hawkesbury River, N.S.W.' Woolly and badly drawn. Why always the same effect ? 72, * Rangitoto.' Flat as a pancake. 73, ' Dimollie Castle.' Badly drawn. 74, • A Shady Path.' Far too ' painty.' Figure looks as if it had been stuck on after the picture was finished. 75, 'Sylvan Lake.' Lacks distance. 76, ' West Coast, off Kopuru.' Splendid atmospheric effects. Observation good. Foreground full of strength — and yet no large objects are shewn. Wave in middle distance rather stiff. 77, ' Lake Takapuna. Sunny. One of the beet pictures exhibited. Perspective clearly delineated. Rushes too black in foreground.

78, 'The Cook House.' Technique good, but drawing bad. 79, ' Roses.' Good, but too hard. Lacks lighting. 80, ' North Head, Auckland Harbour.' Rather weak. 81, ' A Study.' Clever bit of work, but rather dull. Wants oiling 1 up. 82, ' A Summer Torrent.' Bold bit of work. Rock it> foreground rather suggestive of a burst football. 83, ' Margin of Lake Wairarapa. Unnatural. 84, ' Goose Girl.' Birds like mantel ornaments in porcelain. Face dirtily painted. Artist would do well to take a lesson from Miss Prideaux. 85, ' Sunrise.' Boulders again ! 86, ' North Head.' Crude. 87, ' A Crib in the Bush.' Figures badly drawn. Colouring clean Great detail shown — even to the labels on the jam-tins in the distance. 88, " Portrait of Lady Augusta Boyle.' Colouring good, but drawing very weak. 89, ' Roses.' Drawing hard, foliage very black. 90, 'Little Huia.' Very weak. 91. l Bocks at Kawhia ' Crude. 92, ' A Life Study — Brittany Peasant.' Paree again ! 93, ' Sunset on the Waipa.' Not a glaring miccess. Portrait painting more in this lady's line.

94, ' Sunrise, Bradshaw Sound.' Full of last year's errors. 95, ' Bird Rock.' Very true to nature. Fine observation. 96, * Coast at Mercury Bay.' Very good. 97, ' Coolangatta.' A study in green, purple and blue. 97, ' Whangarei Heads.' Far too much indigo. 99, * She can't see us.' Just as well she can't. 100, ' Mount Egmont. Not worthy., of mention. 101, 'The Wharf, Auckland.' Not at all a pleasant picture to contemplate. Another

study in indigo. Ask Alec Alison if this is one of his fleet. 102, ' Roses.' Too hard and cold. But well grouped and drawn. 103, ' Chrysanthemums.' Weak and spidery. .104, * Early Morning, Drunken Bay.' Artist very much off colour when he was at Drunken Bay. 105, ' Lake Ada.' Pretty bit of painting. But background too strong. 106, ' Home Bay, Ponsonby.' A bit better than his other efforts. 107, ' On the Waikato.' A splendid bit of ' composition. But very sombre. 108/ Esmeralda (unfinished).' If unfinished, please * c draw wrist and arm over again. 109, ' Roses and Sweet Peas.' Evidently his I first shot at flowers. i

110, ' Wenderbolm.' Very scraggy. 111, 1 Still Life Study,' Very good indeed. 112, 'The Huia.' A great improvement, but in trouble with middle-distance again. 113 'A Bit of the Waitoa River.' Flat. Try again. 114, ' Mt. Egmont. Rather weak. 115, ' Study from Life.' Drawinir of iaoe shows ability, but the high-colour-ing, oh ! The model was evidently blushing. 116, ' Blossoms.' Very weak.