THE ART GALLERY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4614, 10 April 1893, Page 4

THE ART GALLERY.

THE PICTURES. < i. ; The thirteenth annual exhibition of the Canterbury Sqoiety of Arts compares very favourably with those of preceding years. Not only is the number of pictures- on the' walls larger —that is comparatively 'a jninor matter— but;, what is of far more' importance, there is a noteworthy advance in the artistic merit of the exhibits. There is greater originality ' in the work of the. exhibitorß, some of whom show a disposition to strike out new lines for themselves/ to work in directions towards which they have not hitherto tended. ' There is greater variety in the subjects, and there is a larger proportion of figure work than at any; previous exhibition of the Society. The; old members, as a rule, well sustainthe. repntation they gained in former years, and the work shown by new members proves that their accession has, 'from an artistic point of view, strengthened the Society. Of the , two hundred and ninety-seven piotureß which' compose the Exhibition,, the most notable, and the finest evershown by a member of the Society, ia 231, "The Convalescent," a large canvas by, Mr P. Van der Yelden, who thiß year ex-' hibits as one of the members of the Can-. terbury Art Society. It is a picture full : of feeling. A girl with a sweet, pale face, sits in an arm chair, covered with a ruy, and dreams pensively. over the book <wb. ; ch lies unheeded on her lap. The treatment of the subject is admirable; the pose of the figure natural, and the colouring har-' monious and in every way excellent. . If any fault may be found with so fine a work, it is that the face is too pale even for that of a convalescent. The clothing and accessories are . treated with an artistic richness of colouring, which .produces an exquisite effeot. Mr "Van der Velden has another large canvas in the exhibition, 148, "Mount Kolleston, West Coaafr," a powerful work, admirable for vigour and breadth of treatment. The foaming- river and rooks in the foreground, the dark masß of the mountain, and the wild storm, slouds overhead are treated -with masterly, coldness and power, and the general effect is superb. : Mr John Qibb sends eight oil paintings, good specimens of his well-known and popular style. The best ts43, " A Gleam of Sunshine, Akaroa Heads!" In this large canvas the water is luminous and full of motion. The sky ib admirable, and the effeot of the light breaking through the clouds is ■ finely represented. The treatment of the hillß is, however, rather wanting in vigour. 3To. 0.96, "A Nor'eaat Breeze, Taylor's Mistake," i&a bright, sunny picture. The rocks and foam in the foreground are especially well .painted. In 26, " Mountain, Mists, Banks' Peninsula," the effect of the mists hovering over and enwrapping hill and rock is represented with muoh fidelity to nature. .252, "A Bush Sawpit," is a small canvas of an entirely different kind. Mr Gibb may almoßtbe Baid to have struok oub a new line for himself in this picture. The figures of the sawyers working under an awning in the' blazing sunshine are well drawn. The effeot of tne sun' a rays Bhining through the: awning- is very fine, and the (picture is thoroughly harmonious in tone. 256, " Mount Cook, from Glentanner," is noticeable for its brilliant sunrise effects, but is not bo good as the paintingaijuat mentioned. A quiet, peaceful scene is effectively represented in 6, " Morning, Port Chalmers," but it is rather too smooth in treatment. Misa M. O. Stoddart's eight watercolour drawings are worthy of her reputation.' Her work chows that, in one department, landscape painting, she has improved since last year's exhibition. 88, *• Flood on the Otaki River," contains some good effective work.; the rushing water is very happily represented. In 94 "Otaki Beach," Miss Stoddart has done exceedingly well. The tone is admirable, the sea is especially well painted, and the manipulation throughout is excellent. .93 " Pear Blossoms " is a good specimen of her well-known ski'l as a painter of flowers, grass and trees. In 125 "<on the Ohau River, Wellington," this lady has taken to a somewhat new line of work. The tree ferns, which are the principal feature of the picture, are very well treated, though one would like to see a little more of the light reflected -,n their fronds, as ia the case in Nature. 159 " Cactus Blossoms " ie simple, but effective in composition, and charming in colour. 161 ?' Low Tide, Taylor's Mistake," is a i I'resh, breezy' bit of work. 179 "ißoaeß" is a gem. Its tone, colour and composition are excellent, and it is the artist's best atill life picture in the exhibition. The eight canvases exhibited by Mr W. M. Qibb Bhow thia painstaking artist has made progress during the year. 3, •" Harvest," is a charming little painting, marked by good, truthful colour, clear atmosphere and freedom of treatment, 22, •'ln.the Dart Valley, Wakatipu," another small canvas, is a good representation of a certain kind of New Zealand tusbixory. The rushes in the foreground are effectively treated ; the sky is finely painted, and the effect of the mist ia well rendered. Perhaps Mr W. tyl. Gibb's best picture ia ,55, "Autumn Showers," a largo canva?. The river running through flix and rcods, the ruined shed and the lowering sky, are boldly and realistically painted. The treatment of the water ia particularly good, and the effeot of; the light ia the middle distance is excellent. In 69, "Looker-on. Range, Kaikoura," the foreground is very well painted and the sky id fine, but the treatment of the mountains seems a tittle stiff. The composition of 187, "Winter in the Domain," ig remarkably effective. The leafleßa trees are very cleverly painted, and the Bolitary human figure h very good.. 260, "Mount Cook," seen from Governor's Bußh on a " grey day " i 3 an attractive rendering of a .familiar subject. The drawing of the mountains is especially good. Mr J. M. Madden hag found, during his visit to Sydney, subjects which suit bis style— hidlove of bright colour. The. beat o£ his eight canvases is 4, " A Ferry Boat;, Sydney Harbour." It sViowb bold and vigorous treatment ; the boat, a steamer, is particularly well drawn, and the artist has caught the true tinta of an Australian sunset. No.' 31, " Waiting at the Ferry, Sydney," shows a gaily-coloured group ' whiting on the North Shore for the boat. depicted in the painting above referred to. The perspective of the road in very good, and the hot haze in the atmosphere is very well represented, but the effeot of the colours, of the people's dresses teems rather violent to our eyes. Mr Madden has not by any means confined himself to subjecta gleaned from Australia. In 15, "On the Heath cote," he has attempted, with considerable success, the representation of the vaiiou3 shades of green to be seen on our trees and hedgerows in early summer. The figures introduced into the picture are well painted, and the water is noticeable for 'its transparency. 192, "A Summer Afternoon, New Brighton," ia noteworthy for the excellence of the atmosphere, and for the fine effect o( the sunlight on the lupins in the middle distance. Ia 19,5, "Early Spring" in the Chcistchurch Domain, the artist has a subject in which he is. quite at home. The leafless birch trees are exquisitely painted, and the whole tone; of the picture is thoroughly good. Also true m tone, if nob co pleasing in colour, is 211 "Summer," a bifc of the -Park,: with Bheep feeding beneath the tioea. Tne figures of the sheep are exf ccedingly well done. In 215, "Passing Showers, Lake Wakatipu," the contrast between the gloom in the distance and the gleam ofi sunshine on the foreground is very effective. The painting is, altogether, a poweiful piece iff work.