AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTS EXHIBITION.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIII, Issue XXI, 18 November 1899, Page 925

AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTS EXHIBITION.

Tlr' nineteenth annual exhibition of •the Auckland Society of Arts was opened last Wednesday by a conversazione in the Choral Hall. There was a large gathering, and the hall, in addition to the attraction it derived from tlm paintings that adorned the walls, had been prettily decorated with greenery. Mr A. E. Devore, one of the oldest patrons of the Society, delivered the opening address, in the absence of Lord Kanfurly. He referred to the work of the Society in the past, and reminded the audience that it was the oldest body of its kind in Australasia. During the evening musical items were given at intervals by Hunter's band, and the presence of a ban ! on subsequent evenings has added in no small measure to the attractiveness of the exhibition. It is acknowledged on all sides that the pictures taken as a whole mark an huproAr'inent on the work of past years. The general standard is higher and there are one or two paint ngs which both in conception ami treatment take place decidedly abom the level we have been accustomed to in our local exhibitions. Of those the magnificent painting by Messrs Goldie and Steele should be mentioned first. The work has already been noticed in these pages. When it was first oxhi bi tael a short time ago at the private exhibition of pictures given by the two artists, it attracted much attention, and since it has hung in the Choral Hall it has certainly been the chief centre of attraction tHwe. In this issue appears a reproduction of the painting, which in the original measures some 6 feet by 4. The carnet a. which in most instances. gi\r*s a pretty fair idea of the general aspects of a. picture, has not done its best for this work, owing to the fault of the lighting in the Choral Hall. The result is that in tle> reproduction the foreground of the picture is much darker than in the* original, and the upper part of the work appears suffused in a light which does not really belong to it. In its historical interest, in the variety of clever studies of the human form which it embraces, in the terrible suggestiveness of the composition. Messrs Goldie am] Steele's picture stands by itself. Nothing- of tl»'i kind has ever been attempted by any local, or New Zealand artist. Mr F. Wright will be remembered chiefly as a painter of most charmingwater colours. Something of the same luminous delicacy which characterised these works stamps his oil paintings. “Christmas Time" and “The Mill Valley” are two of rhe most beautiful of landsea.pes we have st»-<n. The artist has caught Nature as we know her in New Zealand in her tenderest aspect. Apart from rhe presence of such strongly-marked characteristics of flora, which tell a New Zealand scene at once, there is an Indefinable characteristic of general contour and atmosphere that belongs to New Zealand alone which Mr Wright manages to introduce into his pictures. “The Canoe Builders," the work of .Mr Wright and his brother, is one of the largest canvases on exhibition. Like the picture by Messrs Steele and Goldie, it deals entirely with Maoridom before the advent of the Pakeha on the scene; but there the similarity between the two works ends. In subject and in treatment the one is the antithesis of the other. The keynote of “The Canoe Builders” is peace and peaceful industry aft»*r the somewhat lazy semi savage standard of work. The Work might be blamed for a lack of action, but no doubt what the pa’iiirers mean to bring out as characteristic of the scene, is the easy unhasting fashion in which the Maori v.wnt about the business of life. Had they been portraying a modern ship-yard such inaction as marks tjie picture would have been manifestly out of place, but here rhe case is different. Air Pay ton, the President of rhe Society, is perhaps the most prolific painter of good work in the North, lie sets a splendid example of industry to artists generally, and they may also learn much from one who has devoted himself with much loving study to New Zealand mountain, field ami flood. Such pictures as St. Peter's, Whangaroa Harbour, and the Waiwera River, at sunset, reflect tlo beauties of New Zealand in every line. They are full of tender feeling and ha\r» a softness of colour and outline that is particularly pleasing. In his water colours Mr Pay ton displays the same happy touch. Mr Drummond, one of our best artists, exhibits several important pictures. Among his most noteworthy efforts this year is the seascape entitled* “The Morning After the

Storm.” In scenes of this character Mr Drummond i> in his den »*iit, for lye has scope for his natural “Vigour of treatment. But the artist is at his very best in “Early Morning.” the painting re prod not'd in this issue. An artist whose work shows great improvement th ? s y*>ar is Mr Douglas Perrett. He equals Mr Pay ton in industry. to judge by the number of his works on view. A lover of mirror-like ex|xinses of water and high towering mountains wreathed in purple mist, lie has drawn his inspiration chiefly from the lakes of the South Island, and depicts the magnificent scenery of that region with much success. "Mount Cook from Lake Pukaki,” and “Lake Manapouri." are his largest canMiss Mary Morton was most favourably known as an animal painter before she left Auckland to study in London. Her return to the Northern city fills a place in artistic circles that* remained empty while she was away. No artist came forward to paint our Loises and doggies as Miss Morion had done, and so the work will once more devolve on her. As examples of the benefit she had dervied from tuition abroad one might almost take* any of Miss Morton's exhibits. Her copy of Rosa Bonheur's famous work, which, unfortunately, we think. Is hung in the side room because of the combined fact of its size and that it is not her original conception. show> her to bp a very clever copyist, while her original power proclaims itself in several paintings of horses. Mr Pheney's work this year shows distinct advance on former efforts. “The Bullock Team” is excellent in many respects; especially in its suggest iveness of a warm summer day—• a New Zealand summer day. Among Southern artists Mr Nairn, of Wellington, has always been regarded as a clever painter. His pictures in the Exhibition this year attract attention, however, rather from the novelty of Mr Nairn's style to Aucklanders than from what merit they may recognise in his art. Hl* impressionist style and his love ot neutral tints *do not appeal to the general. Another Southern, Nir W. Menzies Gibb, makes himself much better understood and appreciated. His one picture, "Evening on the Lowkind,” Canterbury, is a delightful depiction of a ealm warm evening. A rising young artist is Mr Trevor Lloyd, who in "A Bachelor's Home” takes the most ambitious, and we think, the most successful!, flight ha has ever taken. Herr Dittmer is a new-comer, who comes well recommended. He claims* attention in the. Exhibition chiefly with a large portrait of a lady, which is said to be a wonderfully true likeOld exhibitors like Messrs IT. W. Young. George Gregory, Chas. Blomfield. \V. A. Bowring. T. I). Leedham, Yearburv, B. Mckerras, I. Rvan. Misses E. M. Baker. ‘Pilcher. May Henderson. 15. Cawkwell. and others are to the fore- with specimens of their work in varying degrees of merit; and several new names ap«» pear in the catalogue. 'The interest of the Exhibition Inn been greatly enhanced by the pictures’ kindly lent by the Countess of Ranlurly. 'These include three of her own. painting delicate, suggestive composit ions--two Scottish sea scapes and one view of Stewart Island, New Zealand. and several by distinguished Home painters. Among the miscellaneous adjuinct* to the Exhibition are rough sketches by .Miss Horne, coloured photographs by Miss IL Stuart, and paintings on china by Miss E. S. Gillies.