CONVERSAZIONE AT THE PHILOSOPHICAL INSTITUTE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3420, 27 March 1879, Page 4

CONVERSAZIONE AT THE PHILOSOPHICAL INSTITUTE.

•■• , + ' On Thursday evoning, April 3, the annual conversazione in conntotion with the Canterbury Philosophical Institute is to take place. The use of the old Provinoial Counoil Chambers has been obtained, and there is every reaaon to believe that tho gathering will not only equal, but exceed in interest, the various convenaziones whioh from time to time have taken place in this city. The Philosophical Institute has recently made such an enormous increase in its membership aB to ensure a widespread interest in its proceedings, and as a number of gentlemen are actively engaged in its behalf, in the preparation of essays having a wide range, and couohed in as popular a form as possible, there is every reason to believe that the Institute will have a prosperous career. The new era will be fitly marked by the forthcoming conversazione, at which the Committee of management intends to provide an imposing and thoroughly interesting collection of works of art, scientific apparatus, &o. The popular Prosident, Professor Bickerton, is to deliver an opening address, and by the system of tioket ißßue whioh has beou adopted, a large gathering is ensured. Tho conversazione will, however, acquire its chief interest from the fact, ao modestly stated in the advertisement, that "the publications of the Arundel Sooiety, recently purohased by tho Institute, will be exhibited." In connnection with this announcement, it Will be of interest to state that tho Arundel Society, waa established in London about thirty years ago, when a number of gentlemen who were lovers of the fine artß banded themselves together for the purpose of devising and carrying into effeot some scheme which should foster and encourage a taste for piotures of the highest order. They decided upon reproducing, at suoh rate as their funds would allow, tho moßt remarkable works of the greatest artists of the Middle Age, turning their attention to theae paintings in the first instance, because of the manner in which priceless treasures were being neglected, or because of the process of natural decay wliich in not a few instances waß slowly but surely proceeding. It need scarcely bo remarked that in the vast field presented to such a Society, not the least difficulty to be surmounted was the ohoice of subjects ; and it might have been conjectured that, as thereare with " many men, many minds, " the Society would scarcely succeed in arrivingat a satisfactory conclusion. In the various schools of painting, however, there are certain exponents whose examples havo a natural prominence, a rank conceded to them by every art student, and as the mombers of tho Arundel Society had a definite purpose to serve, their task became a comparatively easy one. They placed themselves in communication with some of the greatest living arfcistß and commissioned theße gentleman to produce fac-similes of the paintings ohosen, some of these boing frescoes on the walls of churches or publio buildings, and others, pictures which were hun? in ohurches, or various widely scattered galleries. The facsimiles once secured, their multiplication was easy, thankß to the rapid strides made in the art of printing, and fche ohromo-lithographs and oleographs which are now to be obtained, enable peoplo with modest incomes to surround themselves with faithful reproductions of the greatest masters, and art students fco perfect themselves without the large outlay once required for travelling from place to place on the Con- .. tinenfc. In not a few of tho English Museums and Galleries, the publications of the Arundel Sooiety havo been eagerly welcomed, and in the Melbourne Picture Gallery two rooms have been specially set apart for thorn. Those who may attend tho conversazione of the Philosophical Institute, will be afforded an opportunity of inspecting the Arundel collection under the most favourable conditions, since Dr Von Haast has most kindly undertaken the preparation of a descriptive catalogue, a copy of which is to be presented to overy visitor. A glance at some of the Bhects of copy whioh Dr Haast has completed, shows that respecting every picture there will bo a few terse, well-chosen romarks, giving interesting details relative to the paintor, and pointing out the characteristic features of his work. All the pictures are to be suitably framed, and hung as advantageously aB possible, bo that for tho first time in the history of Canterbury some of the glories of the Middle Ages may be soen and enjoyed. The leading painters who will be fittingly represe ted iv the unique collection are as follows : — Italian soheol — Michael Angolo, the man who has been described as an ode writer or epio painter, sublimo in all his conceptions ; Raphael, who may bo ranked even before Michael Angelo ; Leonardo da Vinci, Titian, Giotto, Porogino, Fra Angolico, Sanzio, Ghilandajo, Andrea del Sato, Luini, Philipino Lippi, Muntagna, Francia, Fra Bartolomeo, Masazzio, Masoloni, and Borticelli. Flanders school — iho Brothers Von Eyk, and Hans Memling. German school — Holbein, Albrecht Duerer, and Meistor V\ ilhelm. Theae, ifc will be.borno in mind, form only a proportion of the artists who will be represonted. The Philosophical Institute may be fairly congratulated upon having secured such a collection, and still more upon having embraced an early opportunity of exhibiting them to the publio. That thoy will largely aid in the aesthetic education of the rising generation cannot be doubted.