ACADEMY EXHIBITION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 627, 2 October 1909, Page 14

ACADEMY EXHIBITION.

fef j|: water-colouisi cpn-. fi'?i' ? <i r; S v ;'h?-.qijs-:'^ji'his p*:JsSsti&;V^Vw^)i^s^r,ftb^piMUcffii'-ineflipcre oil higher'techK#s! sOTeral;instanqeS;';ii ittis; collection. fe/iS-iiK/fe pK'-rl /?y/S.: : jaftedvin*pi£ tliey have 1 i^"£'K'?i'..dj!^ : ?ft;./':;/!/wbrk|on.!this;ifc!de^ fß'i9;i iWi^efibjfect^iflgMe■ : aj^*;p6rtraitSSeiiig in the mi-; %'fki~M'4;\- ■Bm;, J fbeVpermitted:>i6":eiiires3i censiderable Tβ-; jtioii-' and; a';clean';Sdirectness Jpfj fiiethodywhioh fes-/?'^ ja' y£ ?^!i#i.\iiirapipojnt^ 'if'd(£- 'i? fisher's istrVrig^impreysipMsni/^lliss'-Hodgkin's : itrutlif ul; »St/fefc4 &'s£&] -;V: y :^ir: ;}viiii. vMZii&i the;/best' work: s.iii-yi[';4"'-Vi":v:tbS;;6lßra6ai;"64''! by' :pi^::S;-f-;lC&i%ddart.^M^- : Aeoii 'J :i: recognised. /■a^.to^ihbst|'BUc'(jfesful i .'!paiiiteS-- , pf;' g^i-K;^s;;flb^erVinbjocla- ; in ! Mhe,vPomihion^;'and J - lately; 5SfH^ ; 'b£ iter:vstrong jmbthotl landscapo.' S';fe!:'i ■-■' : :;S&^s?^£epiKond|^gined;!with''-'(^tttti'Vgißmus,' i J Targe'/nnu '!'s,%'» '£tt trtiy.Uptistnifipa'Api '■' the; ?facts)-.0f.;. T jiatiiro;s, KS-'- v /V^:i : - : tt ■S;.'':iV'.#^ : ; /; : aM.;she//appeals'/.Very" particularly<:alid v'niost K'--#.Wr-;.-/; M<& dPb> « li{ ?-:'£si% 6 ;s£\S§ri 05i;'- v,':(-;;:been>cftoseiiy/by|Athe f/fijit;; ;jVc:*;iilb3t*. 'i-V.;!;V'^ft k of/:the'ih>'might' ; reaspnably:haTe-|giveii place-to. ; exceedingly;; charming i 'ipSr- ; '.-vii'."»iciA "^jiing , ;wllifch-is; tho' ?ssfr--&M&'/t^ Ui;:;,;SjH{' r i-hpT:; 'colpu'K'yA'/sbft'jspringli^rit) yiiii-'i-ifi".'.': ■;•. : °'.:> ; /' '■;;•'= -^-pictureifandi-thßvTrbpleicompbSition'^'WH^bf 1 rtloweiv, studies are ? Is;'difflpult:;td S^Aiv,¥«•:^.|^r^li^^jtnatSthβ■JSWntV:b^ : thβ'■'rbiri : $$§■>$.&• vdmjjtt,^ $i£b/Zt^/■'gbbd'-jSe'alU furtheralpng.j/the'wall, v theie ; is, ■SfS?-/i¥■■''/"rfije-'SWfa'gte ■■aSeacli-.'J.-'io'fiKe': Snowdrop Oridpbri:iaildi%f''Gmvi!rtte. ■&4p*& V oir; treated 'thtougK'plenty '= of -, atinOßjiliere. if M *S*ri OneMs'vdeliglited \\9: nnd -,tli4 L sigiiatore; pt. M.» ;; E.v Eichardspn ifteqnent :.oir\tHe\wftlls.; jSifris: : -;?:;j;MiBs' Sienardßpn:.(Mrs;^Trip'e);■ wa3?teally;..phe. i ot ,; paiiiters:Sh>fe:; toHsepora g^A?;H^.rl B ttentipnvto' r thei;beat^nie;ffioda;bf^^ r -w lo '^;-l;Oft.tfeaMenf-fand' Bome;:ytar3.;agp Aer jexamples, :isSK^f^^m or^iaMrtent/than^any;in: <&$?:?&£k. some. M»Sj;i:C;'v n tar;^xoibitions;?Her;;riUplf. JDinka;";. though; S^S*^MVlery;'he^cp!pur^i3. > B*eet']ti; ; ifisXrt £iK##&fe- a tta.e#;toM^ p3"i^ : pS;6J..K;r^eJfiffi»:j*iHV::-tW'pilv?ection ,o£i the exhibition. *Mfit%£S :j !:'lfWi,Bii charpiuig 11 jiiiality; - and. 'shows < much. ; ?;g^iS*^Kicba(ilsbn"s; v earlieiv;wdfkfe- V*.h .■-■'■ &».! t&:*?><& 'iijiihfier'pf- verpforceablei of. work ; !^;which:"is' r : marked /individuality, : 'stneK ; ip;ilrfstft;MertbnJi3 certainly one: of. ;».«*<V ; " :l '- : fthe!"Nb)v')7.ealand. artists, Mj.ut-his-work-'showa. s?ft^\K : :-: ;: iii^MmpW : dangerp!ir:<lcgree;of/advanced tta-i Kv?-fyi?^':iybungSa^mau;;!:au | -6xtrnordiiiary,;and>:qiiite (^^^'.""'.'Aiirusuiil,"-g6niiis i rf6r?l)roadly; ; ' truthful .trana-;a^'p-'r.'-; : vatlv'antagoS,V : Ko /proceeds;.' ;&S;K* ;j/ : «TOitK < 'dirocti^ : prqcislbn : ?ibf;;!fmethod, ■■ tp.-imbue/; Ifiti i^iS" ; :>:natiira's '.fa<i.t ~and ap-/ > iersbnality:H-As ; .:a : ;result, < there~ are; $$&%<!/■'£&■ this> /eiliibitijptf^sonie^ery. , charmingi,pic-, im&i :his ; ; sigrtaturei/ The .-most notice-. .a. jjr'l*:'.;.)-/•;ypry; , "tt'dmirable;''composition,/.in•.which, the R'fe'4"'. ■"K artists 'stren'gth>'df;niethdd : !is very-prpnonnced,; W&P, '■"■ " but'tuK'very.'strength; -/pf'wliicli 'suggested , -: the, KsS^vVVbni^'Miingerous^as^scd ;t\b;ore.vThe exercise' fe^S3??y ; v o f ja i: Httl& mbie'iiestraint: would ,haye 'rphdered|sStft!;fr:~:th'is/;ipictur&:ruearer; liperfectibn , ,? -A 7very>Mnnch; 10/'sPnie, ■ more i.attractiye, ..work..' i^&M:'V^ s i n is."^Gibraltar.''y;Tn>thiii;{>vjth. i Corisummato: SS;*f^C:craft;^SlriP Hertqiv>has',acttially -caughti,the.. p;B^-;-K.':-wind,'iwith:' : Kis7:bwsi^nd-itr^nsferred i |-?fe^ ;; '% S ;, gusty'clbudi intO/the.seascape;;,,:inother:

delightfully .'ozonic - .little': bit" is l-'Barque.'Ho-ih'.whioh' the drawing.-and arrangement are/faultless, ! '. and :■ the '-water, clever. ■ "Kountree'a Cottage" is a good 'example in anbthervein. 1 Mr; Merton would have done wejl tb-be , contented with these'four examples: his Mother three are not nearly-so'good.', / ■'■■■•■- .-■Tnrning tothp work of Miss'Eichraond, and one's observation being caught 'by her. large werk; ■ "Grove at /Trentham,'' \before:. subse-' nuentlyi ■discover.ing .her. ."Dolce :Far : Nionto,' onis>is struck with astonishment, first that the •ci>ltfur's4hse : 'whioK dictated .the' , latter should -have tolerated- the -former, ■'and;-Secondly ■ that tbii. oxecutive skill which' is so obvious-.in, the smaller picturoVshould.have been:.capable-or turning out-thOiiargCT: one. '"Dolce Far Niehte 7, is , far:arid away the best thing Miss Richmond-has'over shown here. ' It-positively 'glnws hvith truth in colour and lino,- nnd the. treatment of. .the canvas-filtered sunlight will be-'a'perbetual delight to tho fortunate possessor of: the'picture.' Here . Miss: Eichmond ho■i'-'-aUbwed her technical skill to co-bperate m- tho most successful' manner with a largo colour sense : and 'judgement.of values, which ba'-'tuis .occasion her. fondness -for decorative treatment has''not been allowed to over-master. 'Another Sverj 1 charming little bit in a : similar te,inns the on the Golf Lints.", Why the artist made /tho. mistake of .exhibiting the large Trentham ,one cannot imagine, nor ' can one ':■ quite ■!■ comprehend, the necessity for, thii'work.-with-a' mystic poetical title,'/.whose colour is like nothing in heaven above or in tho earth/beneath. The "Bridge over' Wainui" is real New Zealand midday colour, with tli.v. exception of, .the, sky,: which jsrrs on the gieen side;; The- "Girl .at the■ 'Window' is "admirable'in..'.drawine and. colouc/in a i minor kev, but wants a/little more, emphatic light , - ■' A conspicuously.' Rood -.little work, .is Mr.: ,Wel6h'si' f Sandhills;-'' which,shows. a highlyjm'tclligerit't grasp and;'interpretation ■ rf. aerial, perspective, arrived-, at/ by r'direct troth' of -niethod;i"withb'lt adyentitious iiid;of any. sort. '•This-' arfist's >ater^olour; worths -progVessing towards & : -high. degree; ofrißXcellcnCe. vHis - tieliuht'in ; real'-Pzond.';is-admirably .'shown .me A Busy ; ,Bay-'-fdr;-'.the- Tugs','' ,iii--which.,the ar-/ rarigement /of- 'boats., shows .-thorough- appre-ciation-of:-godd'..linB.The,.colour.-of ..tte, water, /is'--a , little ■.carelcss, : ;..andC.tho- figging -a; littlff too.' careful;.'•-..TIiE/iwafer-Un- , "Sunshine /and. Shadow" : 'is•.•■exceedingly good;" as 'is , also ■ the management-of-.'light,, but the;, whole.. -comnosi-; :tion sjlifeXs/;slight)y;frdm-,a superfluity;.of;:lr ; ec;; calls foi'-'-pbihtcd-notice -bwing-..t0-.its.frequence-oti-the 1 ' f hne?-'-' Mr.: , Atkinson wh-' lias-shown, remarkable.-promise of strong; individtiality/and.a certain;amount ,prbroadly -ttltWul j ;t6ilcßp;tißti-.of:.c6lpur;;-but.he:,has/this *eaiSsu"ffeml-;?i'bhi;-a' ■■tompdrary, aberration-: of colour intellect;which;is; disapppmting m to ; ,spme,whn : take/ah v interest;,in his/work: ;'.Tha: only,; exainplb 'of liis,which.offers any. exenso ?for<its We-,, 'fiiißtoii'Hnrbour/.'./in.which-.yiore is-good-feel-■ in?in\he sky; and : : g;enefal,re.(lection i cffect,- r but tho -'iVhblc" ' scheme ■::is-,t6b:;>much ■."'of v-a '-mono- _ chroino"in -''IMo, ■ andsthe ; r colour ,r6latiqns ,aro "oiitra wi • -.'lt.' is : td . bo ,hoped that - • Mr.- Atkin-. son ■will'.haye:.finished.so\Ving;his'artist!c.,wil(l Vdats'-.-D'ef6re>;e^t%'ar,vand^lU -return-to ,-Uie. .faiie;jnhrinor he/iised'-to.-.eShibit^v.../?.': f -Mr' AVaishV'br'ehristchu'rch,. sends,some. al- : .tbgetbef. v ddliKhtful:%ork. // iThb/best, jperhaps,. I™^intdr-jiorrung^Springfield.'Vgood, fhonest. 'baintine/.which shows finecolopr'sense and clean S?£ : -of.; method... -rfrwtff- &°mgk •: ■is"aiother'Bbod example;: and ;in.-both>.these, the. :otcnd?S& we admirable, / ■discrimination of:,values: .-'• I'ln / Mapriland£, is mWm finb-'feeling, -The -.'/KaikouraV; -study 'wcnldte improved by..omission;of.nho'Sheepi_;;: t'°Hr,iWbrsley; is -'inEdequately.. ■tnree ;or. f our : : m ediocrities; Pf - some '.size. . .The W ; ihini:pf:-his:.one c Wd. look •"On-'theVChur-apad,, Switzerland,',: ■and.an-.-.tnis, ?'./>A>/ '■/Mr% / '^Hgiit'sends / from..Audklaiid/:6e.veral ■'■exampiesVbf i: clean-:lahdscara',w6rk'.:r,'Taradise,-Ske^Waltatipu?'-'shows/delicato'.strenrth,.-of. ■(;olour i: and' r gdod;arrangement of lino.;,lr.'. ; the, ■ "Wairau■'Gorge".his line is.not so-,well-.man-a'Ved, and-the°whole-level of ,the ; picture is un--through'.unsfolful. /mount-jSgV-:Jn'/ih>.;J!!Tdsman Glacor , ; :picture.V;.Mr. •Wright'- ha^-failed', to;. grapple a^S^ "cessfully'withv.the/.peculiarihea.of :rarefied;,at-hitosphere,-;.alth'ough ■ the; waxing^mo^ini,'. light Bartley, from Ciristchurch, anothei-rnew : , hasr Some '.fexamples' of v stroug, honest 'work. '■ The most conspicuous -lsV.a. figure" study, "Meditation;" in which the drawing is admir-ablk;,-,the /texture, .good, -and'ithe colour',-arr 'raWement /pleasing.«?A- Grey Day" is.:-ono-.qf tho-'best .landscapes'-.m . the .room, / /an^J 3 . treated,with well-managedrlight and ; great■ at■mespherio depth.'■ "Evening'' and . "Q*tf}* ' <st-rs" nre not JiearlT so good,, .the; textnjral fcy^CioSteallv.being.pbor £;. y -Mr E. W; Fayton, .61 is ;riot<-.so. Well represented this year as ho has been, foi■''merlv "The'Top I 'bi.:.th'o-Hill'?-, has i-'a* good about:it;;b.ut.th«cplfoiiiv'arranßeinc'ht vis/ /hardly t true.-. -.-. ;.■■.!:(*;■-..:■■:■.• "Mr , J. Ml Madden ' has ' several .examples .of.'■--.varying. ;-,auality, his./ best ~: undonbtedlyvbvening on; the -.Tiber;." m which the 'falling evening .ls.-trcatcduvith ,great feeling," and both 'moon' and/artificial/ ights are. well managed.-. A pastel,. "Homeward Bound, .is.nice. colour,.and/good 'drawing; the, lunar halo 'is'.cloverly/.treated.v'/,'■■.•./•.■ ;;•'■ ' -.' -Mrs : -IzettVshows' very'/marked' .improvement in'' work/ , this ryear; in both .colour;;and 'strength of,- treatment. Th'ero is an increased 'cinfidencef-iii-'-her. , .method, /which, is attended by-very-good rcsnlt.- 'Treparing for-'llarlcef "contains a good/ideal''of• -truthful colour,-but 'suffers' ; rathcr--'<from..,slackness o£' method in foreground.and figure:.i.'.'When Work is-Over..: js'- ; ari'"excficdiri!;ly.' clever^sketch,,-tho;,drawing-of'the horses 1 boinß particularly .strong. ./.- v

''In , the large pastel, shown by -Miss Sybil'Johnston, one-is'disappointed-to find a loss of.the:Bilbtld/delicacy!which.:'ha>..[ofteh. characterised .some'•• of /her poetical fantasias. Miss Johnston , is the fortunate possessor of a strong imaginatiVe 'impressionism',-' appreciauve colour sense, and' well-trained mastery of. line, but this year her work has failed, to justify itself. The "Toilet" picture is like tho curates egg—parts of it are. excellent-but the colour oilect is ■ meretricious'.and 'tho ~ arraugemont somewhat forced. Thecandlesare really giving no light at all; nor could .thero be any justification for colour so ./intense , under , candlelight. The "Dancer" :i;n an ;cven- more unfortunate effort, and is'jointedly.out of: drawing. Both pictures are 'out of placo on the line. Mr. W. M. Gibbi'tof Christchurch, sends some "nico" workr- One regrets being unable conscientiously toliay- anything nicer, .because sdmo years agohis promise .was.uncommonly, rich. It is" muoh'>'to bo, feared.' ho .may havo taken to heart some such principles as-were preached by the Mayor-tho-idther best of his examples is the seascape,- Entrance. j to Queen. Charlotte-Sound,":; which -is breezy, ! and shows good management of light,-the■•whole, effect, however, being rather- spoiled,. by : the I colour of the .barque's canvas.■ The ; Estuary , ■■ is rather nice colour in a low key. . .. ■• • The work of Miss Baird in water-colour. showß. a really extraordinary .advance, , and sheshowe thh.year some of,.the. most pleasing, pictures in the galleryi ; One' in particular deserves very high praise.'. ; "In the Harbour' -is a rea ™7e water-colour' of: admirable :-ieeling, good arrangement oF'line, and restrained strength of colour: Thetreatment of the rigging is quite : cbrtnolitipnVaud rich colour treated^- a;strong f KBen^aU : is:an;ar& who i has. found; W Particular metier in. a. tenderly .....appreciative Sment SofTdyliic a decorattve-mannerjandone prefers-her purely decorative work.;.;, Aj decorative "Baby",.panel is her'best example thisyear, the. other work ■sheThas'slnt- in all. suffering..from',ascertain, heaviness of..tone.'ft The' excellencepf her drawing however, i makes up, for. a good many minor ""sine"-'-of colour.-,-As -an/ example; Pf. igff sound'arawihg,. . inpst attractive/-andvdne only-wishes -the. coloM; ■-scS"wasicleaner:' There;,is much'feelingvin ■'Never':Mind>"vbut this-also -is,, somewhat. :marred , .in:.thp < :same' point. -. - •• -.;•.•■■;,■;_.■■ • ■ „■:■ ' iA 'larce pastel: portraw study,. .as.--A.-.. 8 ,- GoddSas'/be el iiwarded;rdther,.unde.served. Srawiig is all right,' but the texture- -and fi#&WsMm'6fo*- /is .'another; : a gbod deal .of; ; poignant.regret,.for the.days. of whaforio may, be pardoned formal n^, long 'ago," when water-colour work, .pro 'raised: great: and-.g00.V.-things. rhKiiiAer'.vi"brbus co bur,isense.:is-.shpivn,bj: :stonf/;tfeatment ; '>pf^f,gurc, )^casant) and good' :flesh".tfsatoent,,,;' He.te.rie-. • -also. C^o^ro?i&'"Day's^/Ba'y"?;Sehowe: •i^e^^^^u^nlfhea, : '^aTirMorning,-.WoUingtbn ) "- ; comes;from,Mr. ? Thb^S->arawings;of:^.^ue^^and f the ; lino work "of- Sidney Beaumont,,- strong;sent in for competition are/stronß^ in' , the < fiEure class, in , which some admirable is sCn by. William gutter and :Violet Nelson.' The. designs'for' the: catalogue, coyer, comprise-some: poo'd. work, in. additipn.tpUhe accepted design: which,, though »™tfM*#E: ventional, is undoubtedly the most appropriate foTthe '? much stronger and of-greater: orwnahty.iTwP : of :the bdol£cover.designs.suhrnittedi are.much: stronger, and'shbw. more individuality than the O^-to whiclv the.first ■priza.has.bceniawarded', Some /delicate, miniature, work; is- shown, .that: of-Mrs.'Godden.beinß.-especially good. :, i.'.v ..' Before dismissing tho pictures for the year,, one may perhaps be allowed to su B gpst. ; possible {mprovement imthe matter of framing. '-There is an' extraordinary lack of judgment.: evinced inthe framing of. many. of the natures/sent which results 'wt only to: the detriment of, tho individual- works; but tends ;to/snpir,the cenoral effect of .the exhibition., . These : remarks are not -intended to/, anply- specially' to the : "present ■ -exhibition-it 'has-.f-long.. been hob'coablc. Generally/ speaking, oil .work in-.-tended ~ for ; -of ..ithis-i ■characterShould , 'be', framed/.invplain ; good,.',BOla-leaf■ mouldini;.'/ The;quostion.-/of the:proner setting ■ for water-colours ..may. -be' left,- to :the'. exercise, of more'individual selection, but. care ouehf to bo taken to avoid.the choice-of .mouidinßs of too dark and sheavyan-order;'a.s,these-id-

variably produce, an oppressive, sensation w.hlch tells individually as, woll.as generally. on .the effect of the work .shown. ■ . ' •In regard to tho matter of. selection.v.and hanging, and certain other official arrangements connected with exhibitions of this kind, the advisability is. suggested of instituting \«gula-' tion that nil -work", intended for exhibition should bo-sent in at least three weeks before the opening day! ' .i'i'hh would reasonable. amount of tioio inwhich, the work'ot selection and hanging-could begone with uuo deliberation and judgment, and it would also probably e'nsuro the'issue of a catalogue witli fewer irritating errata in it than nro sprinkled profusely, through the- current production.