ART REVIVAL IN MASTERTON.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 888, 6 August 1910, Page 14

ART REVIVAL IN MASTERTON.

(From Our Special Correspondent.)

Art,, so far as tho great bulk of Alastertou's population is concerned, has not, of late years, occupied a prominent position in "tho active concerns of lifo. indeed, it has lost that charin whinh onco made it so attractive to those aspiring to accomplishment. Whether thcio exists an.artistic spark in- tho composition of the. present- generation' remains to be seen. Tho managers of tho Masterton Technical School • aro hopeful that there does, and- that it requires only judicious l : aniiijig to develop it into a flame.- Inspired with tins hope, thoy have set themselves tho task ot applying a torch to the smouldering embers, and this day there was held in the Technical School an exhibition which should do something to achieve the purposo which the managers have in view. From the time, that the idea took shapp, there J)as heen displayed an entliusiasm which augurs; well for tho future, and this week's exhibition, winch was opened by tho Mayor (Mr. , , a was so eminently successful that lasting results will" probably follow. 1

, Among the pictures on view was a (valued at £500), lent by the llev. lather Molloy. Another c i£-S oU i >0 S as a "Punch" engraving I! »b,J>.V Henry Lemon, lent bv Mr. i\. S. Jago. A fine English watercolour by David Cox, describing a \Velsh cottage, was exhibited by Mr. W. fcl. Jackson, who had also on exhibition a number of other .interesting art studies, including "Tho Sunset," by owau. Mr. 0. E. Beet-ham showed somo excellent oils, the portrait paintings of Ins late father and mother being particularly well executed. Mr. E. W. Payton, of the Auckland School of Art, bad one or two very good studies, and a landscape by the late Mr. J. Nairn showed' more than ordinary merit, homo of the paintings in oil, those by tho lato Mr. J. M'Master, showed a good deal of originality, and the life stucly ot a sleeping boy possessed striking fidelity to nature. A watercolour by Mr. F; J. Aldridge was an attractive exhibit, and soirit) splendid work in oils (done with tho left hand) was shown by Miss A. M. Murray. A very old picture by W. Murray was also on exhibition. Mrs. C. E. Cockburn- \\ ood lent an exquisite piecc of tapestry work, portraying the "Five Choristers.'' Among others who lent works of art were Messrs. P. L. Hollings, A. P. I'ending (a view'of London city 250 years ago), R. Beotliam, Mrs. J. P Perry, Miss Williams,, etc.. Some classical ; and architectural studies procured by Mr. Robert Lee (chairman of the Education Board) on the occasion of his last visit to the Old Country were also on view. Mr. Feiiton (art instructor) exhibited poster designs, black and white, life studies, watert'olours, oils, pastille and chalk'studies. Several of his students wore also exhibitors, and ono of these (Mr. Poison) displayed good promise. The works of ait were not confined to tho brush alone. 'There were, for instance, a ease 'if New Zealand fauna, a cleverlycontrived patchwork quilt,. a . Sliakespereau picturo in silk, specimens of .'drip-carving,-' modelling, etc. ' Among, the. numerous visitors was Mr. H. S. Wardell, president of . the Wellington Academy, of Fine Arts: :