THE ART EXHIBITION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1259, 14 October 1911, Page 9

THE ART EXHIBITION.

1 (By "Aquarelle.") j ———— < 111. : Amongst tho-water-colours tho most im--1 portaut in point of size and subject are -. those of Mr. V. N. Worsley, who has ' recently visited the Old World, and whoso name is now embalmed in tho archives ; of the Royal Society of British Artists. The work he has sent in varies a good ' deal in quality, and tho best of it shows sonic alteration in stylo and improved depth of quality. This is particularly to be observed in his Chilian picture mi), which is refined in treatment and admirable in colour and atmosphere. The same . may be said of "A Market Boat, Locarno" (111). The "Cumberland Harvest" (118) is ■ also exceptionally good colour, but (ho , quality of the hills is distinctly woolly.. ■ His continental pieces are cleanly painted, ; and an English early morning st'rcct scene. , (lOti) is delightlully fresh anil admirably ' drawn. ' Quito the most captivating water-colour ' works in the gallery are tho result of 5 recent subject-research in the fresh airi very fresh-by Mr. A. W. Walsh. This » artist's steady progress in strength has ; been very noticoablo of recent years, and • one may say that ho has now'"arrived" ; in the most successful manner. Jn tho i examples under notice his art shows an ! unhesitating vigour of execution which • cannot be too highly commended. His > keen colour-sense, at work with a purity [ of line which is the result of long and careful study, and an unerring perception • of proportionate values, combine to pro--1 (luce masterly result. His little "Pelorus > Sound" subject' (107) is the best bit of ! painting in cither medium in the cxhibi--1 lion. ' _ Mr. Owen Morton also is evidently mak- , iiig steady progress at home, on the Continent, and wherever his artistic cxplora- [ lions nro carrying him. His eager individuality is being tempered to much adI vantage by technical study. He has a . specially strong .Dutch Caiial subject-in [ a.locality which it is quite impossible to either spell or pronounce—(ll7), in which. , the water treatment is limpid in the ox- ! treiue, and the colour well managed. Ho also shows a number of Continental [ street subjects in a quaint, quiet ninnner, ' of which (he I'ue St. Hoiiorc flL'O) is particularly sweet in quality. The most striking thing on the. line in this, section is Miss Kimboll's "Day--1 dream" (illi). This artists drawing is de- ; lighlful in decision and strength. Tho ; wholo treatment of this ligttro subject gives evidence of an advanced grasp of tho value of broad arrangement of tone and _ semi-tone, and a vigour of lino of considerablu capacity. In one point, however, one looks with, some confidence, to future improvement, and that is in ciioice and arrangement of colour. The scheme of tho example under notice is quite harmonious, but.the colour leaves something to be desired in tone. Some exceedingly good work is shown by Mr. E. Barllcy who has lately «mio much to tho front. Tho most ambitious of his example is "A Corn-yard, Bruges" (133) in which there is n perfect: riot of warm sunlight palpitating through wellmanaged foliage. Tho whole composition is vigorously painted and I lie incidental figure work is good. Mr. Hartley shows other- landscape work of great delicacy of feeling and skilful manipulation. His "Study" (US) is one of tho best examples of portraiture in water-colour that has been shown hero for some, time, and'is conspicuous for truthful strength, good colour, and rclincd method. Tlio work cf Miss I). K. Richmond this year is uneven in quality. Tho artist takes her accustomed excursions into chromatic vagary in everything shown. In "Boats Prom the Coal Hulks" (127) the arrangement is-clever, if somewhat ob- / viously careful, and t'ho drawing strong and without reproach. The composition is pleasing and the whole thing exhales palpable atmosphere. The water would' . bo quite delightful-were it not for the-' •■• fact that Miss Richmond has aggressively subordinated .the truth of her colour in-., stinct to an erroneous- conception of the demands of colour-scheme. "Drying Sails" (88) contains good points of drawing, and' a sketch on tho reclaimed land ,(18) is clei'er, but both examples show curious • contortions of colour, whilo tho % "Vallcy, of tho Maitai" (91) inexcusv;-; able. •>-'•• Mr. N. Welch continues to do . good work, but there is nothing here so conspicuously sound as some of tho work ■ ho sent to tho Arts Club Exhibition. His strongest pieco is "Stripping in Sydney Harbour" (181) in which his colour "is exceptionally nice. His drawing is always good. A delicate and clever little landscape is the "White Path" (100) by G. K. Webber. , In "Morning,in Rotten Eow" (108) Mr. Liuley Richardson has produced a very . charming littlo picture which deserved, more conspicuous recognition at the hands '■ ,of the Hanging Committee. A collection of this artist's delicato pastel portraits ' of sweet quality forms an attractive group on another part of this wall. Particular attention is drawn to tho fascinatingstrength of lino in'these examples. ~ ; Miss Stoddart'has 6'ent a good many examples in which her' established grasp of colour continues evident, but her sub-, jects this year are 'somehow rather dis-' appointing. Another artist whoso work shown. thia year is inconspicuous in quality is Mr. N. Barraud, who, however, more than makes up'for any hiatus in his progress in water-colour by importing an emphatic nolo of interest to the exhibition in a small collection of original etchings whoso delicacy of touch, strong line,- and depth, of quality doservo much praise. Mr. Wallwork's "Cards" (79) is ol charming littlo bit of genre, in which! the possibilities of simple treatment should bo noted particularly by. tho student. -.. Mrs. Field sends two or throo examples of her clear, decisive method in 6trong atmospheric colour. In two of these,. , however, a sort of Birkott-Fostcr-liko spottiness of treatment detracts from their otherwise success. Miss M. Lees "Picnic" (2), though good in the drawing of somo of the figures, ia disappointing in general treatment. Some graceful littlo figtiro studies by D, - Osborno givo evidence of much original- . ity, both of treatment and design, tho ; sketch "Daphne" (ft) being particularly sweet, and "Ships that Pass" (37) show* ing poetry of conception and execution. Mrs. Hannah, who some years ago used to exhibit clever pastel work of great promise, is represented this year by two examples, neither of which tend to im- , prove her artistic reputation. Ono is cortadnly out of placo on tho line, being la- ' mentJjbly weak in drawing, and tho other, is not good. Miss Jessie Newton's work continues to show symptoms cf pleiu air and much l truth of colour, but the artist requires to avoid a dangerous tendency to undue--inlluence by tho exponents of tho "sloppy": method. Ono of tho best landscapes in tha gal-' lory is Mr. Mcnzics Gibb's "Harvest Scene" (15G). This is very delightful in colour, and exceptionally refined in treatment, and tho perfection of the composilion gives it a peculiarly restful quality. * Tho "Stouo Circle" (1M), by F. llenson, is a very charming atmospheric littlo work, in'which thercis clover and truthful manipulation of sunshine ami moving shadow. Mr. Lawrence Balfour has a captivating little gem in this section, "A Devon Estuary" (110), which should have- been better hung. Tho examples shown this year by Mr. A. Hansen show considerable feeling as usual, but tack the strength if the work ho has formerly exhibited here. An excellently-painted little, fiit by .Miss' Greta Ewen, "Low. Tide" \,33), is conspicuous for sound treatment, and .MNs Ina lioo continues 16 show nice work, particularly good being her "Bright Southerly" (08). Tho plastic work of Messrs. Piikctliy and Ellis is exceedingly virile mi.il conscientious, and the retiring prcsidmit, Mr. H. S. Wardell, has sent a graceful KHlo statuette, "The Sunlmlh," which shows great refinement of lino and virile execution. A strong bust in marble, lent by Mr. Von Haast—tho work of a IJutsiaii lady—is exceedingly good. Will fomeono kindly explain why some of tho plastic exhibits are classed as painted china, others as oil colours, whi.'o only two have been fortunate enough mi secure recognition in their proper- division iu;tho catalogue?