LANDSCAPES AND PORTRAITS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 738, 10 February 1910, Page 3

LANDSCAPES AND PORTRAITS.

:',.-■. A PEIVATE VIEW. ...It. is, a very interesting ■' collection of pictures . that is now. on view, at Dr. Crosby's' house, Mount' View, the work of Miss-Baldwin -.Warn and Miss' Dnrrant);two English artists. .A, good deal of Jiiss Warn's' work has already been seen in '. Wellington, and several of the pictures now shown have been, in the; Art' Exhibition, .'namely,, the , portrait of Mr. Justice Denniston (which is perhaps /as. fine as anything elso she has. done), a portrait of Mr. Martin Chapman,- and a study for which.Miss Hilda Chapman sat. Some, of the. very '"charming' minia--turcs. have also beoii sliown before, bet to them Miss Warn 'has added, the gem .of .tho'collection,, an exquisite miniature of,an old. lady. 'This was- exhibited, at the Koyal Academy and the Salon, where 'it. won-. high approval. ..'.■' , One of the most, attractive'.of. the uew portraits is one. of Hilda .Chapman, which is both a charming pi'dture hud an excellent likeness. .The modelling and iticsh tints are. excellent. The background is a ■ piece of': dark old tapestry,' ■which.throws into relief the lady's.fair head and shoulders, ■ and delieatoly.coloured draperies, and the v one ; not/s-of deep colour is given by the cluster :of dark purple irises, worn.as a breast-knot. Miss Warn .is, successful .with, her- te'xtur.es, and the pale bluo.'frock and whito lace, scarf ..-are, admirably, done. ':■ ..'■ .: ■ i acing this" is. a picture of an interior. .Ayliidyin a frock of pale heliotrope sits reading, in-a quaint room full of mellow brown tints': and soft shadows,. and through an open door one sees a passage, "and'through', a-room-beyond a glimpse of a-window, and out•;of doors. The colour iniThcpicture comes, from, the dull crimson carpet, seen in the shade of: the -passng<y. and;. from- the lady's sheeny .frock .which reflects the light,from surf'aco and' ,101(15. it is a charmingly, restful and harmonious picture, and the composition ;is excpllenfc; , : ' : ■"•' .'■■,- ■-.'■ ■■ •.

- The ,portrait,.of,-Dr. Hay .strikes one ;as being -a', strong'piece'Vpf work,- arid, very successful as a ..likeness. , Miss Warn's .work is..all strong, and'vigorous, and she .shows: ono or. two landcapes .which ex--hibit ,tho ■ samp, qualities, tho .best of ...these; being, a little bit of farmland, hill, and -blue sea,, on the' : coast- of Wales, : in ;whichvher -treatment ■of tin, trees and .shadows.is.particularly-good. A quaint littlo docorahvo study 'of a round-faced," .round-eyed-peasant child, : set against » palo background,, above whicii is set'!, :ro»- of quaintly-coloured Breton plates, •is,;also .very -Bdotl. .■..'. '.....,.,,, .. ■ r Another interesting...picture is of a valley and. little cluster of-peasants''cot-' .tages'in the Dolomites, a;dark-shadowed mountain behind, arid' in the. foreground a nishing.torrent- of .'fbaniing.ice-green, snow water'.' ■ ■ . ■',-■.'.•■ : - ■-

; /Miss Warn also shows a portrait- ofa. .fair.-haired child. This is a-, delightful 'piece of work;- dono/.in soft" whites, andgreys, and;;pearly,tints, the child's blue ey.es supplying the.-rohly definite note: of Colour,: and |it' is invested with the poetic cbarin ■ that .Miss AVarn contrives .to put into all her! portraiture. "■' ; . '•*-' ■•'" i Miss. Durrant exhibits , many, pictures, bbth:poi-f:rnits and landscapes,' and she •has; two interesting copies, one of- a -'portrait.-, by .Eaeburn, ; and: the /ptlier -by a ,'Georgian; ; artist, •of 'a/ strait-laced vp'riui ladyi who,: no'doublit.in,'lier own,time, a'.beauty.. '■/."".,; : ; : .Miss Durrant has.been -trained; at severnl of ; the, same schook.; as.Miss. Warn, and: has studied under. Herkomer,- in. Engiland, '■ ai! well; as -Cimpn,. Meynahl, and 'Casteluchia .in Paris.'.'. There/is' enougli •'finiilnHty/in their, style' to.fbrce one to /make comparisqns. . It.may' be'said tlia't Miss'.'Durrant'.'is, an/'artist of :lejs' exp'srience thaii.Miss Vi'ttrn, .-ind.'that: her work; does/not. yet exhibit, the "same vigour, and individuality, but that will probably come.- ; It; is good,.strong., and sin-'cere,'and,-hers'■ are '•■fnithful-i-likenessesi -'•

■■[ Cne .of .hcr/imost. successful. portraits is .a:larce ; one of the Her;. "HV-.Sootlaud. , The imodelling." is., very; good,/ if.qd .the-.treat-'meat;sympathetic,"-the' character-'of. the ■clever face.,being-well brought oiit. /•■,/ . /Another portrait that has'the. charm"of .absolute, sincerity and; naturalness, is of : !.a chess.player, .which is admirably done.'has,.no tricks, of manner. :ijo artificialities: :'.-'■ iShp' sympathises, .but iwilbrnptvidealis.e,; arid ,frtrni her one; gets; ;the. truth, ple'asanty.enoiißh,. not .harshly.' .or crudelj - , ■ but with ;.a . friendly candour.: Curiously.enough,/where-'s!ie does dream is. in landscape wortj' .vhile.;Missv'\Varn> is ; inclined'more to; put •; poetry intbpor- :. traits' ami. givp ■ prose '• renderings- of scenery. : " .."■■-'. '-" .".' •! ■ [' ■ ■;■; ;■■ . ."■

..Miss Durrant shows' some very! attractive little \i-ater-colour ! sketches of country,.: both in England and in. Holland, and' some more important Dutch, studies, both, figures'.and,:laudscapes.\ ; "..--. '■: These.are.only a few of the many pictures shown,.-which;; altogether. Yfo'rni ;.iin 'interesting and ''admirable •■ collection. '•' '■: