ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 73, 19 December 1907, Page 3

ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS.

THE PICTURES EXPECTED FROM HOME. Considerable disappointment was expressed when tho New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts re-opened its gallery without the pictures which were expected from Home. It was as long ago as February, 1906, that the citizens' movement for the purchase of additional pictures for tho gallery was initiated. In that month, a meeting was hold with the Mayor in the chair, and a committee consisting of the Mayor, with tho Hon. T, K. Macdonald, M.L.C., and Mr. Riley was appointed to co-operate with the Academy of Fine Arts in collecting funds. Tho Academy was represented by Dr. Fell (tho then President), Dr. Fyffo, and Mr. J. W. Joynt. They succeeded in raising £800, a notable proof of the interest of the public in art matters. The Government came to their aid with a subsidy? of £500, and tho money was thrown into one fund. The joint committee spent £500 in buying some of the finest pictures from the British collection at tho Christchurch Exhibition Art Gallery,/ and these are now on the walla of the local gallery. The remaining £800 was sent to England for the purchase of other pictures, Miss Hodgkins, well-known here as an artist, and Mr. Norman Garstin, an English artist, being deputed as selectors. The pictures were expected two or three months ago, and still they have not come. Dr: Fell, when seen . yesterday by a Dominion reporter, said that he was expecting thorn every dny. In reply to a question, he stated that no cablegram had been sent Hnme to inquire as to tho cause of the delay.