AMONGST THE PICTURES.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9238, 16 October 1895, Page 3

AMONGST THE PICTURES.

THE PALETTE CLUB EXHIBITION

Second Notice.

(BY OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.)

Resuming the notice of the different pictures gathered together at the annual Exhibition of the Palette Club, we cannot fail after examination of all the exhibits to become impressed with two things. These are firstly the great improvement in quality manifested by the artists, aud secondly, the fact that so Urge a number of young artista are coming to the front. This augurs well, not only for the continued success of the Palette Club, but also for the improvement of art geuerally in our midst. Ou *' New Brighton Beach" (51) E. Slater has been very successful in the treatment of the white capped waves rolling iv upon uhe beach, which are naturally painted. The perspective is good, as is also the sandy beach. " Among the Gorse" (52) by the earns artist is a very excelleut contrast of colour, and the clouds are we':l done. A charming little flower piece " Primroses and Japonic-" (53) by Mrs E. Turner deserves commeudation, the flowers being especially well painted. There is noticeable a little want of strength aud decision iv the p-inting of the back ground, but as a whole the piciure is well painted. Mr Madden has—let it be 3aid with bated breath —somewhat exaggerated the blueness of the lake in his picture " Beach Road, Queeastown (54), but the mountains m the background, aud the trees in the middle distauce are admirably done. In her portrait " Marjorie" (58) Mrs Turner has been very successful with the flesh tints. There is a want of power iv the paintiug of the hair, but still the picture gives promise of future excellence in this branch .of art. Mr Thornhill Cooper has a good picture, ••Fruit" (58), which bears bhe "sold" ticket. In "Lake Wakatipu—Evening" (59), Mr W. Menzies Gibb has been successful in reproducing tbat beautiful but all too brief afterglow which is seen to such advantage in New Zealand. The rocks and foliage in the foreground are vigorously painted, and the cloud effects and perspective very artistically managed. Miss Heleu F. Gibson deserves the prize for the competition landscape, her picture, " A Still Day iv Lytteiton" (61), being a very excellent and artistic production. The bright colours of the gorse are cleverly brought into contrast witn the green of the flax and the brown of the rocks. The picture is oue which gives great promise for the future, and Miss Gibson is to be congratulated on the success attending her efforts. The autumn tints on the tree 3 in the Park have been reproduced with much artistic ability and fidelity by Mrs E. Turner in her '•Autumn iv North Park" (62). The shadows under the trees are excellently done, as also are the trees themselves. Miss Nina Jones has beeu successful in her picture, ,l Apricot 3 " (63), and the same may be said of Miss Sadd's "Apricots" (65), and her •'Cactus" (66). The details or the flower in the latter are particularly well painted. " Very Busy " (67), is a pretty little sketch by J. Topliss— these latter four pictures are by members of the Nelson Bisliopdale Sketchiug Club. " A Portrait" (71), by Mrs Turner, is well painted. Miss Mabel Hill's picture, "Amongst the Docks" (72), is a -pirited painting, full of l.fe and vigour. The crimson colour iv the foreground throws up into stroug relief the green of the foliage iv the background, and this contrast has been very artistically taken advantage of by Miss Hill. The trees are well paiuted, aud the cloud effects are capital. Miss Hill is to be congratulated ou the artistic tone which pervades the picture as a whole. *' A Little Brunette" (77), by the same artiso, is a wonderful example of fidelity of detail and purity of the flesh tints. One could have wished however, that the little lady who acted as model for this charming picture had not been so overcome by the honour as to assume a somewhat strained and unnatural expression. Miss Stoddart has two exceedingly artistic pictures—" After the Snow " (78) and " Peas Blossom " (79). In the former the particles of snow clinging to the green leaves of the ivy makes up a very pretty contrast- of colour, which the artist: has finely expressed. The different colours of the handful of sweet pea blossom, carelessly grouped together, have been wonderfully well done, and the picture ia one fully sustaining the high reputation as a flower painter, which Miss Stoddart has bo worthily won. " Island Bay, Wellington " (80) and " Oa the Bank, Wanganui River " (81) are both by Mr JET. N. Anderson. The pictures show considerable artistic ability, and one cannot but regret that some more romantic scenery bad not been selected for reproduction. Miss Dransfield, of Wellington, sends three pictures, of which " B&uk Scene, Patea " (84) may be selected for high commendation. " Evening Glow, Lake Te Anau" (85), is in Mr L. W. Wilson's best style, and is a splendid picture. The artist has bsen most successful in the reproduction of tho effect of the light of the declining sun striking the summits of the hills, whilst on the lake below the darkening shadows of evening are beginning to fall. " The Homestead " (86), by John Baillie, is well painted, as is also "An Old Drive" (87), by Miss Nora Gardner. The cloud effects iv the latter are well painted, as is also the foliage. Mr Crocker's "Fishenn*n's Hut (89) is well paiuted, and Mr Cane's " View in Norwich" (90) is an excellent bit of work. There i 8 a finish and completeness about the latter picture which makes it deserving of careful study. "Poppies" (90a), by E. A. Sadd, shows care and diligence, the flowers . beiDg excellently painted. " Lowlands, Hurst Valley " (91). by E. R. Brabazon, is a pleasant little study. The water is well painted, as is also the foliage. In Mr Topliss* picture " A Maori" (92) we cannot help thinking that, the model came from a European stock, none of the facial characteristics of the Maori —which are exceedingly well defined as a rule—being noticeable. " Under the Hill" 1,94). by Miss Stoddart, shows that this talented artist is equally ac home in landscape aa iv flower paintiug. The gorae ia the foreground makes a light spot of colour, which lights up the picture. Mr Bram-ll's "Study from Life"( 96) is carefully paiuted, the red headdress throwing up the tints of the face in strong relief. ••Sunset at Catliu's River" (97), by H. D. Roscoe, is a very artistic study of foliage, i and also a clever reproduction of tne charming scenery of the locality. Our old frieni Mount Earnslaw is i well painted by Mr L. W. Wilson I in his picture •' Mount Earnslaw, Lake Wakatipu" (98) and in "Chrysanthemums" (103) Miss Stoddart has cleverly and most naturally introduced a note of colour which lights up the dead white of the flowers very effectively. " Light on the Kaiwharawhara" (104) by M. C. Smith, shows clever and artistic dealing with a somewhat commonplace subject. Another picture of Catlin's river scenery, "Rock Point" (106), by H. D. Roscoe, is an excellent bit of work, and tbe same may be said of " Clover Pasture, Riccarton " (106), by M. K. Richardson, in which tbe artist has been particularly happy in the reproduction of the cloud effects. A quaint Norman interior, "On the Staircase, Hotel D'Alencon" (103) by Mr Cane, shows the firm broad touch of tbe artist. Mr Topliss* " Life Study" (109) is somewhat disappointing, inasmuch as the artist only gives us the back hair and shoulders of the lady. The pose is good and the painting firm and good in tone. In Miss Stoddart'a "Primroses" (117), " the pure pale flowers of spring " are reproduced with great fidelity. In " Evening, Mount Cook " (123), Mr Madden has a fine picture,reproducing most strongly the effect of sunsat amidst the vast monarchy of the Southern Alps. It is powerfully and artistically painted. Mrs A. E. Turner has been very successful in her picture, " Autumn Afternoon at. New Brighton" (130), and in "Meditation" (131) Mr R. W. Fereday shows what s.rides ne has made in art. The picture is very finely paiuted, the pose and flesh tints being exceedingly good. Mr Thoriihili Cooper's " Fish" (132) is an excellent study of still life, and in '• Wind and Wave" (133) Mr O. Butler gives us a very artistic and natural pourtrayal of water in motion. In Mr Menzies Gibbs' " Ben Lomond, Wakatipu " (136), the mists rolling off the hillsides is admirablydone, and in "Childhood's Happy Days" (137) Mr Butler has contrived, by a happy contrast of the dark background, to throw up the figures of the children in the foreground into strong relief. Miss H. F. Gibson's prize picture, " Afternoon " (138), is well done, and Mr Madden, in " Cecil Peak " (140), has a very fine storm effect. Ihe genial Secretary of the Club, Mr Fair-

holme, has a nice picture, " Bp-vpen the Showers " (141). Mr Butler's " M*Kif>* io * Home " (145) is a sea piece, full of !iffl"an_ power. In " A Hazy Morning " (146) sir Madden is excellent, but the title should surely be "On the Beaoh." The same artist has an unfinished picture, "Autumn, Queenstown " (149), in which the russet tints of the trees are somewhat strongly coloured, but perhaps when finished these will be mellowed somewhat. Thi picture shows much artistic power and breadth of treatment. "After the Snotf Storm" (150), by J. Menzies Gibb, is nice!} painted, aud the same may be said of a piolure by Mrs Turner, " When the S*ow LieWhite" (153). Mr Madden, during hia Lako trip, appears to have been lucky in netting some beautiful storm effects, as witness his '* Near Kingston " (155). Mist Dora Meeson has not been so happy in catching the expression in her portrait, "Canon Stack" (161). as in her other, pictures, but the one under notice ia well painted. "By the Way Side *' (163), J. M. Madden ; '« A Frosty Night" (164), VV. E. Fairholm? ; and " Near Queenstown " (16o), W. Menzies Gibb, all deserve commendation, as also do " Mayfield, Sussex " (168), T. Cane; "A Village Green "(169), and "A Village in Surrey" (171), by Mrs Morice. Muss Nora Gardner sends a good picture " Raiuy Weather—Kowai " (172) and Miaa Mima Gardner, a very excellent reproduotiou of a bit. of Belgian scenery, "On tha Meuse"(lSl). Tnree pictures by Mrs Morice (Nos. 194. 200 and 201) are very fine. Miss Mabel Hill's portrait " Mrs Harry Marshall" (193) is very artistically painted, all the details ot the costume are most faithfully reproduced, and the picture aa a whole is one of great merit. "On the Fisherman's Flat (193), by Mr Fairholme, ia oni of the best this artist has sent.