AN APPRECIATION.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20485, 11 December 1934, Page 10

AN APPRECIATION.

Work of Late Miss M Stoddart.

The death of Miss Margaret Stoddart. which occurred yesterday morning, is a loss which will be keenly felt by her many friends in Christchurch, and particularly by the members of the Society for Imperial Culture, of which she was a vice-president Miss Stoddart impressed all who knew her bv her charm and dignity of manner, combined, as it was, with a kindliness of disposition and a sympathetic nature. For many years the societv was indebted to Miss Stoddart for the tasteful and artistic decorations which she arranged at its meetings, and which showed her unfailing skill in producing the most beautiful effects from the simplest materials. Of her work as a water-colour painter it is almost impossible to speak too highly. Her landscapes and flower pieces were executed with great ability, and won for her high recognition both in Paris and London. These latter were distinguished by an extraordinary virility of- handling, and were at the same time restrained and sonorous in colouring, beautifully composed, and while painted in a manner that was essentially modern, compelled the admiration of the most casual observer. In landscape work her interpretation of New Zealand river-beds and gullies was most able.

Such a high degree of mastery in this field of art is attained by very few in any generation, and Miss Stoddart’s work will always rank amongst the most excellent things of its kind. The patron (Dr J. Hight). the president (Professor J. Shelley) and the secretary (Mr J Fitzgerald), on behalf of the members of the Society for Imperial Culture, wish to place on record their high appreciation of Miss Stoddart’s personality and work, and to extend their sympathy to her relatives and friends.