PURCHASE OF PICTURES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16984, 7 March 1923, Page 4

PURCHASE OF PICTURES.

ART SOCIETY’S GALLERY. The Christchurch Art Society has decided to purchase five pictures to add to the permanent gallery. The selected pictures, which comprise four oil paintand one water-colour, are : A Flemish Waterway,” by Mr A. 1\ Nicoll. “The Sun-bathed Clay Pit. ’ by Air J. Weeks. “The Marble Shrine.” by Mr A. Wall work. A.R.C'.A- ---“ St Paul’s Cathedral,” Mr Cecil Kelly. “ Hapuka River in Flood” (watercolour), Mr A. E. Baxter. 'Fhe oil painting by Mr Weeks is a study of the clay face of a hill, depicting brilliant sunshine. The luminous transparent shadows arc beautifully painted, and the reflected lights are very good. The face of the cliff forms the background of the picture, and in the foreground there are a few figures. The handling of the subject is extremely clever and successful. “A Flemish Waterway.” by Mr Nicoll. depicts the grey atmosphere oi the country, and presents a thoroughly characteristic scene. There is a magnificent sky ; and gleams of light pass through in the middle distance. Mt Cecil Kelly’s picture is an interior scene from St Paul's Cathedral. It is very soundly painted, with excellent- colour effects, and is probably one of the artist’s most successful recent pictures. A classical subject is represented in Mr Wall work's “ A Marble Shrine.” The background consists of fairly heavy trees, tinged with sunlight. The shrine is nestling in the shadow. The picture is different in style from what is usually seen here, but it is a fine example of the Grecian classical type. Tlie water-colour chosen represents a typical New Zealand river iu spate. Mr Baxter has I con extremely successful in depicting the movement of the water, and giving the impression of a torrent foaming down its rocky bed. In the background are the Kaikouras, showing through a transparent mantle of mist and cloud, and on the left is a portion of a wooded hill, which fringes the edge of the river.