The Art Galleries of Europe and the Sarjeant Gallery

Progress, Volume XII, Issue 3, 1 November 1916, Page 776

The Art Galleries of Europe and the Sarjeant Gallery

The large audience which assembled last evening at the Opera House (says the Wanganui Chronicle of October 11th), must have afforded Mr. Hurst Seager gratifying evidence of the fact that there are many citizens of Wanganui who take a lively and intelligent interest in the artistic, as well as the material, development of their city. The main purpose of Mr. Seager lecture was to illustrate and explain the scientific, structural and architectural merits of the accepted plan for the Sarjeant Art Gallery, in comparison with the art galleries of Europe. Mr. Seager, who is recognized as one of the foremost architects of the Dominion, may be said to have made a hobby, and consequently a study, of that all-important essential of art galleries—the effective lighting of the pictures. He has personally visited most of the best-known galleries of the world and, with camera and note-book, carefully recorded their deficiencies and defects. It is a curious eireum stance, recognized alike by experts and laymen, that in no single instance have the builders of the great galleries succeeded in solving the problem of satisfactory lighting. Prom the point of view of architectural beauty they have provided magnificent buildings for the housing of the priceless works of the great masters but they have all, in greater or less degree, failed to evolve a system of lighting such as would enable the full beauty of the pictures to be seen without the annoying and eye-trying distractions of shadows and reflections. Mr. Seager set himself to solve this problem, and it is indeed fortunate for Wanganui that the Australian and New Zealand architects who competed in the designs for our local gallery should have had the advantage of his wide experience and special knowledge. The result is—as was clearly illustrated by the excellent lantern slides provided for the lecture by Mr. F. J. Dentonthat we are to have not merely a building that will be ‘ ‘ good enough ’ ’ for its special purpose, but which will be the “best possible,” and better than the world’s best in all its essential featuresa gallery which will be scientifically correct, structurally perfect and architecturally beautiful. This in itself is a big thing, yet it assumes even more imposing proportions when regarded as only part of the complete scheme which has been evolved by the Author of No. 16 for the utilization of the magnificent site on which the Sarjeant Art Gallery is to be erected. It is a most alluring scheme, a truly noble conception, and its ultimate consummation—for which we must all .strive —will endow our town with one of the most ' imposing and picturesque civic centres in Australasia. And, as Mr. Seager pointed out, the first step towards the attainment of this desirable end has been made possible by the munificent generosity of one public-spirited citizen, and it is for others to follow the late Mr. Henry Sarjeant’s noble example. Mr. Seager paid a warm tribute to the Author of the design No, 2, whose excellent design secured the

second honours in the competition, and he also eulogised the merits of the designs which were placed respectively third and fourth. The outstanding merit of the winning design was evidenced by the lecturer's statement that but for the Winner's splendid conception, either of the other three designs which came up for the final test would have been eminently satisfactory, and that all of themand especially No. 2—would have ensured a more perfectly appointed art gallery than he had seen in any part of the world. In the unavoidable absence of the Mayor, Mr. Geo. Spriggens (Deputy-Mayor) presided, and at the conclusion of the lecture Cr. G. W. McCaul in-

upon declined to have anything further to do with the matter and billed the client for the usual charges. This was all the architect had to do with the matter for some time. In the meantime the client paid progress payments to the builder amounting to some hundreds of pounds in cash. Four months later the client returned to the architect and complained that the work was at a standstill, and what work there was completed was badly carried out, and that as the house was not sufficiently advanced by the time promised to accommodate him he was paying two rents. The architect relented, was sorry for the client, and agreed to consult him and see what was the best to be done. They visited the building

Anted the audience to join with him in according Mr. Meager a hearty vote of thanks an invitation which met with an enthusiastic response.