ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 624, 29 September 1909, Page 4

ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS.

'•THE»OIL COLOURS. (Bit Leslie.) ' ~ I-.-, -■ The picturo all question tv.the portrait .of ,the-Attorney.'General by ' Mr. f.R-'' Cloiision, :i '-'a * Sc6tcli f .til-tist whoso porv -traits are familiarrtoTfrequentors of picturo r,'.';. . '.galleries in the rU.nitcd/ICing'dom. Apart.from E; : ,f; r ;:• J";.'..ther question •of lilceness, jwhioh is admirable, L. it ; is .an examplo. of 'tho. of portraiture ot y :^ r y, - prcler. itli 'congum'mAte; tecKnio til i; ;:- ; : : -capacity Mr.' Clouston has pourtrayed thestfik' [ . •• iiig personality' of; his, subject in a colour N;!; ' :; \ 6C teme.^"whiot'js exceptionally pleasiiig.-—Tho h;:-: .)'::; ; commands -.attention' at; -once by u .fresh fef,::--'-: irifptaess ;of,;characterisitioh. -which is ini vory !'. " delightful contrast to- the humdrum coiinnotit ,:: '/ . place of a good deal; : of the portrait v.-ork tO- . is accustdnied.', The painting of / ac P 's done - witli by an un- :' hesitating handz-'whoso 'of the briish' is ■ ' Tho pos&rof-the figure- is alertr-hnd 0-S-Vfl" ''•M.iathttde 'alj,ve..-'Tho ,treatment of the souioKif''^™?t:difficult; Tho samp v J ; 'artist has another portrait in tho gallery, that- .- of Mr. A, K.- Turiibull, wUich has received' scant; courtesy-; atsjthtf.:hahdS;;:bf / tlio' Hangingi j;: / : .. Committeo, who' hayo with''' aggravating' care-, H}jnymihcdiato proximity:to. : . two - pictures oil the ,avails- whoso; colour pSi rseliemes woro : quito) suro .to\kill it. That is to eay as much aa it can ;W filled, for the schomo; ' of tho picturo :isSvoryj^trong'und...wolj-.'-sush' -■ ' - tainqd, and it has 'c'oino l .o'ut ot' tho murderous fi':w: .treatment .unconimoiily .well.'lt. is a very,good' t- , : likoness, and. is paint'e4 ;in a well-sustained 1-fe'v.;;'.?<■:scheme. of greens in a double light. Tbero are Pi ßot many painters-.ivh6 : cbuld all'ord to'vilntiiro' 6 ? .■■ remarkable' a' tour-de-forcc. If Mr.'. -Clpij-' jZ ■ Eton '. can. bo inducetl'-i to'- stay; in; New .Zealand: Ji 1 ,:.: ;,ne will be .i'valuabjeiicr/ui'sition. V I^VA'i'vV.'.' Sydney Tfiolnsiin'M'unS: him vory-close ff>:,;-.:v. ? -:with;.his.portrait o^MVi^lnrray^Aynsley,:which' 13 a vor y fine:studjr.jitf a'tvigorous refinement of tfc; T,f. ; manner ;.';unassisted;f;liy--, any; toehnical'. device. ■ t" ;. ....' Thedrawing ; is;-,'.-particularly good.'.'The , 'Parasol" is \a. tistpful'iftrrangement.'.of ',bril-. fe''-^OvHMt-.-'cbl9nr,'iin :w'l^ich' ! tn6.-.*expression of tho .^tK9 , 'r^fifcM'- , ' pretation of fil tercet .light: clover 5-:.;\ or,.'three. iiiot' I so good.' • • , & work ( tlxiiiyear >b'y s iliss Baldwin.-Kr;^-"^;^V>Varn'.i3 ; r T eiy ."imqyeju ?iu ■fluajity^.; Iler ' best j,', , f -effort is withouV . hef of Mr. KV-.v',:, j. Martin 1; Chapman,' ia'vi'v;id, lilieiiess painted .in t ' »n .urobtrusiyely manner. : ;.The. SSMv'v; a^.®t? J hM':'.bMn'lv6iy%hoppj , i'- . . koon intellectual .'twinkle;, inf tho^ : welf-knb'wn.' 'O.'i'-f.K.C.'s ;kindly .countMSnc^.:; jTho'',por^il^l;.of, , p'^/;^:;^' ! Justico.Doniiistmrjis [Very' much less'sue-, cessful.:' :,Onb;;knowsWi;ilf.is; Jneant for?but it' p. . has no character.. Thetjijii.tocj much "Supremo. r . ' Court" about it—itjjipf cwnrtjnplace in- treat' h: :: ; -ment:,' and, ; incide'nWlly, >/out of "drawing. - v': ®bvorie'V;is. weakiin'4tawin|,''poor in quality, tev:;/ : tlio-Library", is Kj. ' niuch;.betterit; isj good ..■'strong drawing, 1 :' , v and sound colour.;?!i-'.-; -.V:.' :; .-Jfr.Tom Bruce;';an6thj3r newcomor.ffpiiKthe S-S- .'; Country,vsends .-'''Avork rbf. ;i,"Lady' with :a ; Scarf",,-i(i'his -most' importaht ,f'-: v;;nuhiber—a ;figurb! iubject:ltreatcd 'With a cer-1 of a somewhat'rococo j i?«pW^^' ;r His:rcblbo'^4^d{meral'treatmbn§. ) iSSi einplified ,iir six, other . subjects, lacks nt.;.;: ;[,c:'. -The Maoris are ; Bure to attract. A Mr. 0X::: ' c' Goldio has '6ecufed>|l^inisßg. l 'i4'd6ublo first in tS : j;• faithful ropresentatibfi o{jith'cf;iMaori raco. ' Of / . the excellenco of : his work.iii ; this' particular.. 'rlinb; ;therei'cah : ,^'be 1 , but;<)nb;:opinioh. HiS texfefrjl'.-- >' .-turalstechnique■'.yirgia-'o.p,'^the.,miraculous,":aiid/ ho^imparts; an ; : finish "to ;his'. h}i (S:i £ work :.that ■ would; (l^lfght<'the j ■ artistic 'ofv The-, hanging, , however,;ofifive;ex{i:mplbs;qf exactly thb>sanip' L,:;.-;; v,' ?-kind- of " subject ; by.[bnefetist fevSfAOnecessary : redundan^y,yMtdjMriVGoldie 'woula ;.ihaye' ; ,been.;qiiite 'adequatetSirepresented'byianyf t;S two, of, these :-a'dmiriibljj/ specimens; '.-/-His': s'ubby ;the;: : way, be improved by attention:^ : .to-.Sani ; Mvnriety-jin the , backi ground ' Miss May. Lingartljhas.sent.one of tho,best. canvases that-, has easel for some' time:' "Ho loves me. - ho lives mo not": is a dainty figure:Study;,strong:?i£ ; drii'wir|g, : ;and good.in bAJv,colour.'^■:lt suffers- a '.jittlo-.fr6tfij';beiug too inat-' j : ; ',K':erialistic• in' tho The;juxta-; f^j-'^jpositidn; ! ofJ this/.pintuf6//ft'nd'Cloiiston's portrait ;of : ;Jlr; ,tf icrliM. r Tlio dis- ; p. y>, r -S i contented .- '}l7o'f/ts; a , clevcr; j samovar?: ftj/j/?*'': -tist .f:has;^beeii-"('ii^iserVßdly f 'Yfata|^" •, k;'!. ; /';l?.y.'-'-'®nssian';Peasant;-'ys.'.gpOd?^ -i-A ... is "Melodies" byMr;:'o. F; Kelly) of Christ-.* church—also .a : 'now. ;,i§.,."p^^v6ry'-/power--sketch: charming. colour. seEcm'oV/thi? 1 1 .•/whplb'.poetical with: I ::: :. elegant ■ facility. .-.Tho: drowmg' of . tho 'hands ''.pld ,Jpct"' ; by F/.ffiif.;';;,' /-better an' oldi>";Hio'lan'mnn,- and is so imbued:,with the spirit . caiy/almost^".feol" 't ? -. - tho arcma'/ofthp:;iasceSsbry,-jiii/-tho;;glass." h 1 '«- - " Thn.-.l'nik. Gown" 'is- -in--drawirg. : and good -My- Gardonj";by!iA. /'Elizabeth/ j/cptapbsitiqn: pit-i'/V' quite//spoiled' W I^drtist'k/sensb.;bf 'cbloiHvSSr'fi-;.: ! fined jhohour; parZexcellimco ''on 'thel I I wall* has been accoidfd tp Mr/'Eastlato's "'Duteh/Canal.":; Jlrfj : Eastlako's; : arrangpmcnt / ; ; .- of line is-'strikingly /this >. ,- •; he has produced •;» niicturnc of- considerablo ■ fcffej/A'i'b/;sweetness./ .^JiThe is-i restful,^/ and/- the' j 'air - very/ fine; " It' ■ C-.-,..-.v:. is quito .tho'jbost. landscape ii\' tho ■oil. sectioliv. ' te^:ii'j':'V/'/!ltf/itii9-MwmedifltpT-^icimty' : -ar'e .'-tw6 : large ■ bf::Mr;"Biibbago,.?bf* ' |;'^..'Sv; : ./';Wanganni.: ifOnb/'^f/ihese^'^altihgC'fbr^the 5 ■ |?../i/'; 1 . /tide " —isi i-a. jyery off ;;.cpmpoßition,//show|■v?!W'^'<^.;l jS/^ou^^Mr/^BatibaSb's./StmbsphSre^ia^^good, l ; ■< |.f/;"4/i// a did F/Zv/'/v-.f - ///:.: n°t: einK, th'e_: .^foreßr<rtrri«l Jiptitviaiid - '*droirtii ta/ fj/KiK/'/, ocqup'ants;.."Hi!t'y". Batehii-.de',pomm'cs " is. not f -. nearly so goody/"Thbrb. is .plenty, of atmo-' P/v//;? 1 ;':! .spheric, the smolqr" old town, vory; ' g/?/:w':/«ood^'but ; :thpiincidehtal' figures'in thoitore-' .-ground /are', tod? frequent : and. '.havo, littlo ex- ; [i«7i/A/P s^E%'" th oir^resonco/K / Both;'bf these, pic- ' |;:/;;/.;j;4v;;™ r P.f/- ,^^l< l much- improved' by' -hav- 5 ' '■ ". ; !:. , j it/'/y/Uv'^ia'tho/vv-orW' sent in by Mr. / V v-W." I^tfßprraud^vho^has*■ changed- his riiedium ' ?/. f i ; :;SS' :: / an d /for/something : stronger. ' Ho shoe's oils, this year, for the first time and,. ' i; ,: I .'. - Mudgingsby thc oxaraples which, lie !.. ;.. ho will jbenefit/ by /thorf change. : &''!fe:Vv/liardl3r< - -realisd': that. " Rain '..Clauds,yftdtpxui'"; p.f.;Kft'r'is'>really.:.th6';-#OT in di]'.': ilt ! f;: is a; ; .del|Bhtfuti::atmosphcric, -Work :in 'a" grey . 0 -/'i/i:- . »chome.i:whoso bffcct,is oinpliasiscd by d clever , ( .sulphur; iolpur-jioto in.thK£«reground..i"uWin- ' t®r.:i Sunset,-Jiomb "/is,' also, very 1 good, q.uito 1 jy - : - contradisfinctivij ;in/colour.;, but it. suffers con-, j --'/V.-'f/;-':'-. ?'4erably| through.-, an'othor^'/criinifiiil ""ftfit'ttf v ! it ; next to Mr. :| Gore's ; '.; Sunrisft" picture. //'/:/■ / /v.-kfr- $■' J^;--Gore's, work this,;year/ is -very : !; ! /disappointing; /J Ho" ..shows 'three. .or • font- littlo ZS'fif an T ;degree, of:;merit,; and one. ... larger ;one-^",Sunrise..andLow. Tido." In • . ''- this, tho glow/of the, sunrise 'and.,tho-.misty 1 /;- /;.;, ''. purples, of ..thbfmiddle distanco aro woll;:bal- (/ t'i:.-'//./ they sky.. and foreground seem; to :helpng, tb- ; a.'different.'colour scheme altogether, f.; ; His :best work .this year is." Tho. Creek.' i y ;^///:;;:'//'- t prominent. amongst the: oils; is tho t- .: - byvMr.,: Ri-.Pvoctor;: of ".Christ- . < who; joia3' ; ; evidently/heen /visiting' : sp/V- miM/toshis/canyascs thbrmbst delightful 'har- 1 f-','..: ponies-:.in:.form: and .colour..;: It is diffionlt .to choose between tho..-Venetian •;water, subj. . .. jects—characterised all of them by rich'colourI,.'' ;. - ing and limpid sea. , Door', : ' ' • -9X nE ?'- G ". r ?. 0 9," ' s fibttr^ing,find-his : &¥/;// ' "Stackyard (entirely dfffotent*in'-subject;an'd-f-/ ■'/:/- treatment) a'; clover • adjustment • of: ef-/-/fective: detail;? s witli -great .breadth of- colour' •- .; sense. sljong arrangement of ■ light in ' '- of Clausen's'manner. '' :.;:/. All .MrjlPrqcte'ts,work,shows :good drawing.' ;' 'r ;H..Howqrth:is represented by a num- ''- E or ,0f clear,•• C(ild, and clean sections'of New,' • iV : _f/: Zealaud , scenery, . -/** South - , f . - • West :,Cape ";, iontains "'tho best. work'. - They , j: :-..: ~/ are 'none ,;pf ; :/themup . toV tho artist's best. I-,-:■!/./''>*'• ftandard, /.and 'all guffer/fjrom" tUsSit-'ot' : ■ j . .fnnctory. austerity of ,inanrieri'"and'-'UTe l 'sur--'- 'i /=.;://i/r'wundedi by ;a.:Mrt : .Tourist- .- --. - • Department. /;^,;.. '; , •'; _ Mr; Einley Richardson's work ip -' [ ■ . ing. Ho done,well, to cqnliiie:-his . . : CPn tribiitioris ttt-tlie;Madifi'ipiibjectsi "01d : r:: :''-//:-' l .Maori VWoman/ —a: small stvdy—is -full of t vivid character, and in point of artistic is', perhapsthe best. of tho three. shows a high degree of exeh:,; . /// .'.' cutivb skill, ' and" ;a : very -right appreciation of I//:;/ the .chdracterisßc' peculiarities of. tho'.subject /'' Sis;'" Aftcrnodrv ; Tea " 'is too conspicuous to» t pass silence that woulilvbe - " !"VV://; , /': kind. : As/a'pretdrial exercise, it i s faulty' in' ' [ drawing;and.-;awlnvard in nrraiigement; ~"Welf- ? '■// /<': :. .lingtoh j from' /Ivclburne "' fails tp ,explain;.. ijts ■ ; . . ... raison d'etre, 'v :/* ! ; : ' / f:■ .'-.The painting/of Mr., G.' E. Butler - is' that" ! of av.man' who is an adept at. assimilating . t//-:.i : ; ?;;;,;; .tho chief :facts;pf Nature while being able to dis- ; .. • .. • regardiunnecessaiy trivialities , in a broad strong ■.melhbdf,:records: iis. .impressions.:in - a ■ . . ,y. ..f.. '-. manner that appeals/to . sense, ■

The work which ho has sent in this year is '■ less important than usual, but maintains, his . Qustogary 'etrerigth. 'His. "Eavesdrppper,"—' a doparturo from lus most frequent 4) quite fascinating..- •; - - • Mr. J. M. . Madden, of Christcluirch, only . . sends one.oil, jn Which ho treats;his favourite moving mountain' nust in rich colour in a n truthful, if somewhat oleographic,. manner. »\ ~ . V A rather charming littlo bit"of from; Mr,. O'Keefe's studio on'.tho Duncdin Ocean Beachv It is some years since Mr. 0 O'Keofe used to be a constant contributor of 1 .work iof this kind, and oho is pleased to see j that he .still transmits on to canvas his poetic appreciation of homely idyll. His colour is' sound, t and-his-drawing good.: In landscape, il.jof. Which he';.has sent. somo! examjiles,,'ho is at present less at home. f- Mr., if.' H. Itiiy.ward is a new contributor, | 0 whoso., treatmsnt of landscapo 'shows considerable promise, and a corrcct observation of • cplour._ His "Lngoon" sljows very nico feeling;' ' it much' bettet.'treatment at .the' hands pr'.the-Hanging'Committee. Mr. Rayward has, r 'probably 'gooU -dcal'.pf strongth in reservo.'- ' Mr. Sedgwick'.'has a "good bit . of; colour in'; " Ms'i"Grcjr Day,"'but would havo been well : ! advised„to,_omit_tho she«j>; .lliss-Baird^whoso. _ work in'Uofh mediums this year shows great J- advance; sends a fresh and 6trong bit of good . composition in "A Country Road, Autumn." [■;, i'.'Trdut/Fishing," -by- C. Bickerton, . is a very [. charming littlo bit of rivulot, tlio, treatment ofv tho .hguro -bein? -particularly good. - 'Tolperro, • Cornwall," is a reposeful water effect. 1 in a good manner. Mr. E. ,IV. Payton Only sends one oil from Auckland this year, showing Ngauruhoo in eruption—interesting, , but I-' hard. Mr;. Bowring, fwhos'o studio is at present [' (it Napidri'shows.'isomp good worki in ."Good . Fortune, Merry .Gentlemen,'' : and ,the. manage* iribnt of light in "An Interesting Chapter" is good. '' ■' . - ■■ .'. . 'Mr. . Cecil i Jameson, ~whoso ': s work bears . pyjdehco of 'sound ■ study, and a largo apprecia- '.. tfon, ofi tho -principal- faots-in 'Nature, is well represented in, "Evening,', Arbroath Harbour," - [of'rcstraihed strength'and poetic . feeling.: This :is , much the best'of-his work this year. • It is a positivo. misfortune for him that; the Selection Committee should have .accepted his nude study, which, although containing good painting in tho faco and hair, iis obh-usivoly-out of drawing in the femoral regions. . ..'' ,V. ' J ' rising artist of grfeat and progressive pro- ; miso.i? Mr."' -Weloh,, .whose -. work ~:in . .both -. . niodinms is'full of. iridividunlity. His one oil, •; .'lCoaliflp.in ,tho?Strea!n," - is perhapsi over-eni- . ,phatic. m, colour, ,but..js : brcezj . and ; atmos'pheric,. ahd"' : hi3'maiiagemo'nt of whter* is ex-; ' ceedinglv-good; Place, on the line has been accorded .to' Mr. -' ■'•Wakelin's'. v "Willows and Pool";• one cannot ijuito 'understand •'why. TJhqrq. Js sunshine..in it,. but it is flat and ' ■ Spbtls , V''ond ilUlialhnced in colour. There-is . nothing, front; the brush pf, Mr. Worsley that . is worth' special 'notice," ind it is probable that • ho: is ,not personally responsible for . the'pre-' : sencb in the exhibition of : any of the.examples, 'shown,' Mr". -.L'eslio -Morison has two low- , .toned landscapes, of which tho "Old Mill" is inuoh the ;best.; ■, Mr,' Pitkothly has a rather oleverVsketoh'of , light effect on the TYellington i hills, but;:it; can-iardly be considered a gallery . ST£ who has only recently Uiken jtoUhft.bril'shi.'ishows a painstaking'study, ■.oq»tieiJCfiiwarra Strgam—a difficult subjectifor fat.novice'^to''' ; tackle.:rHe has wrestled, with" ifc ijvith. a good deal Jdf siicoess.' Mrs. Malcolm Ross .seridj 4wo or thre.o'i-little'.'bits of unhesitating- ; fjy.ork., Rfv'et"shows uhderstandingof Splonr?and.'tilean • treatiperit.'; Two.- conspicuous ; tonimai'studies .oy'pf:'the d'o'or are by .8.. C; ' '■Dotibio'.. -natural,* "Tho Abbot", !is, not; -both aw^>w ! ' : In''.'?!rho',Path'ifay;t6-.th« the: artisfs ambition has .pww^«o' much for his powers, 1 and tho ' same raiiyjbe said 'of .."On the Road to Mana.EPujj,"vby./F. Brpoko Smith,; in which - there are some' good points'of colour, but the 'water. •is.poor.-and,;tho whole^thing hard. j , 'i ''.The'rb'aro 'a considerablo number of. works i ainontstitho .oils:-tho' ; reason for accept-, i .it'nce,.n)y ..the .Seleoti.Pn 'Committee it -is, quito impossible to:-understand...: • r. fit, -5 »■' i.