ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS, WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 39, 24 September 1892, Page 960

ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS, WELLINGTON.

A CRITICAL REVIEW. ITis acknowledged on all sides that this year’s display excels that of any previous year since the inauguration of the Association. One noticeable feature of the Exhibition is that all the pictures shown are the work of the past year. Amongst the oil paintings, the work of Mr Rodney Barnes, an English artist of some repute in his own country, is the first to attract attention. His best picture, and probably the finest piece of work in the room, is his ‘Approach of Winter,'an English landscape. The gaunt old tree-trunks, with their leafless interlacing branches, reaching from the foreground away into the distance, are wonderfully true to nature. The subject, too, is a particularly difficult one to handle successfully. Mr Barnes ‘ English Oaks at Eastnor.’ is another piece of careful painting. Two small bits of local scenery by the same artist, evidently hurriedly finished for the exhibition, do not call for special mention. Mr J. M. Nairn sends a number of vigorously painted landscapes, as well as two portraits. There is great diversity of opinion as to the merit of this artist's work. H>s largest picture entitled ‘ Changing Pasture,’ is not generally admired, although it undoubtedly displays great skill in composition and drawing. The colouring is unfortunately crude and unpleasing. ‘ A Frosty Morning,’ fiom the same brush, is a charming scene of ice bound swamp and hoary pasture land in the Hutt Valley, over which the early sun is shedding a quiet misty light. Altogether a very happy effect. Mr Nairn's pot traits are both lifelike, and the colouring is good. Mr W. K. Sprott, a rising Christchurch artist, is also well • represented. His painting of the figures of two children in the large picture called ‘ Chain making,’is excellent. Mr Sprott is one of the very few artists in the colony who have the courage to attempt this more difficult branch of the Art —figure painting. His other principal pictures are ‘ Pacific Surf ' and 1 Winter Supplies.’ Mr Richmond Beetham sends several oil paintings, all executed in his well known finished style, the pick of these being ‘ The Arthur River ’ and ‘ In Golden Bay. Messrs C. D. Barraud, J. D. Perrert, John Gibb, W. M. < .ibb, C. Blomfield and E. W. Payton, all well-known artists, again exhibit this year, though no great effort is apparent in any of their pictures to add to their reputation. ■ln Lowry Bay,’ by Nir H M. Gore, is a carefully painted little study, the changing lights of a south easter in the harbour being particular!v well managed. This picture has been purchased by His Excellency the Governor, who has made several selections from the walls. Mr Gore’s only other contribution is a snra" sketch of the Waitotara River. Mr R. N. Anderson shows and übted talent combined with honest outdoor work in his two studies of sea and rocks. His picture of the ‘ Moki Hole,' near Happy Valley, is an effort of which a much older artist might well be proud. Mr L. W. Wilson’s ‘Loch Spling, Scotland,’ is much admired. It is a quiet, peaceful scene in the handling of which great attention has been paid to detail. Misses Mabel Hill. E. M. Bochfort. Richardson, Meeson, A. (Jordon, and K. E. M. S. White all show good work this year, the improvement since the last exhibition being very marked. Mr J. Baillie also exhibits several pictures which should not be overlooked, the most striking of which is ‘ Backwater on the Hutt River. Mrs -I. B. Heywood, who has been for some time a student of the fine arts, has commenced to exhibit this year, and shows great promise. Amongst the water colours. Miss Hodgkins’ two landscapes, * On the Avon, Christchurch,’ and ‘ Hopai, Pelorous Sound,’ most certainly carry off the palm. In these two paintings Miss Hodgkins has shown to what an extent depth and body colour can be introduced with the water colour medium, without sacrificing in the least degree aerial effect and purity of tone. Her view on the Avon is simply perfect. Four or five sketchy domestic scenes by Miss F. M. Hodgkins are attracting a good deal of attention. They are all extremely clever and original. The most effective is her little picture of ‘Spring, in which the drawing and delicate tinting of the old stone building in the background, the blossom of the apple orchard to the right, and the smooth green sward of the foreground all combine to make a charming composition. A dock of geese in the foreground lend life and animation to the scene. Her two other pictures of ‘ Poultrv in a Farmyard,’ and an indoor study called ‘ Her Ain Fireside,' are also original and artistic. Three landscapes from the pencil of Miss K. Holmes, viz., ‘Sketch from the Kaka, Wellington, ‘ View from Mount Cargill, Dunedin,’ and ‘A Green Old Age,’ are all treated in a masterly manner. The latter picture represents an old stranded hulk covered with many coloured seaweed, portrayed with much vigour and freedom. The sky and distance are also well managed. Miss M. Stoddart’s • Christchurch Roses,’ ‘ Primroses,’ and other flower paintings are lovely, and the picture of ‘ A Stormy Day, Sumner Beach,’ is remarkably true to nature. Messrs W. F. Barraud and Noel Barraud havecontributed some very fair work again this year. Miss M. Reynolds, Miss Mabel Hill and Miss A. Gordon, all exhibit something worthy more than passing notice. Mrs E. C. Reynolds and Miss Dransfield each exhibit a beautifully-painted panel, the former of • Magnolia,’ and the latter ‘ Convolvulus.’ The wood carvings are a good deal more numerous this year. The principal exhibitors in this class are Messrs E. 15. Izard and Tall. The Misses (.lather, Skerritt, Vale, Vaile, and Culliford. Mr A. T. Bothamley’s photographs of canoes at Pelorous Sound, and canoes at Picton are artistically composed and beautifully finished. The prize-winners this year are:—Miss Jessie Newton, for outline drawing from cast or antique : Miss E M. Rochfort, figure from antique : Mr S. G. Jollie, study from still life in oil or water colour ; Miss E. Slater, landscape study in oil ; Mr A. T. Wakelin, mechanical drawing ; Mr W. ■I. Strange Muir, architectural drawing; Miss Dransfield, decorative panel.