NATIONAL GALLERY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1425, 27 April 1912, Page 5

NATIONAL GALLERY.

exhibition of british v pictures. OPENING CEREMONY, The official opening of fclie exhibition of British pictures which Mr. Baillio has brought to the Dominion, under tho auspices of tho New Zealniid Acndemy of 3'ino Arts, took place yesterday afternoon at tho gallery, Customhouse Quay. The Junction was attended by a large and representative gathering of citizens, and vas in every way successful, Shortly alter three o'clock, tho president of the academy (Mr. 11. >1. Goro), tho Acting-Mayor (Mi'. J. Smith), fho Mayor-Moot (Mr. ]). M'Laren), and tho Minister for Labour (the Hon. 0. Laurenson) mou'iited an improvised platform, and another step towards the realisation J 0 a tional Gallery was taken. -Mr. Goro, in asking tho Acting-Mayor to open this exhibition, expressed the hopo that it would not bo without its liuhienet) upon the future of tin's DoThe exhibition was tho result of a, decision of tho council of tho academy to introduce into New Zealand a collection of paintings—tho work of the leading men of tho day—from which they could Tii ?i a f° r the national gallery. All they had had in hand at that time was a sum of «£f)Q9 voted bv Parliament in 11)10, but they felt that that amount would bo largely supplemented by municipal and public subscriptions if they (oula only succeed in getting together

such a selection of art treasures as would appeal to those who sincerely desired to further tho development of art ill this country. After tho most careful and anxious consideration, they had decided to communicate with Mr. G. Clausen, R.A., and Mr. John Daillie, who was at ono time a member of their own council. Both theso goutlemen at: once entered into tho spirit of the project with tho very keenest enthusiasm. Tho result of their combined efforts was now before them, and tho council of the academy tor their part had to acknowledge that both as regards quality and quantity tins' collection of works of art has exceeded their most eanguino anticipations. It was hardly conceivable that such a selection of art treasures would be allowed to leave our shores without a determined and patriotic effort being made lo retain tho very best of them l'or uur National Gallery. The fact that tho Government had undertaken to establish a centrai gallery in A\ ellington had removed from us as citizens tho responsibility of providing a site and a building for such on institution. THE £5000 Campaign. The City Council, continued Mi:. Gore, had decided to grant a sum of JJltltJO, provided the academy could rai.se by puLlie subscriptions a sum _of X'oOOO. Though pessimists shook their heads when that announcement was made, he was happy to say now that there was every prospect of the full .ta'JuO being rai.seii before this exhibition closed. For in this matter the honour and reputation of Wellington were at stake. And now that die pictures were on view, it was hoped and expected that subscriptions would come in more rapidly. It was also hoped that a goodly number of those beautiful paintings would be purchased for presentation to the National Gallery. What more delightful gift couid bo made to aviation than a work of art of real merit—something that would live for coiilurici. There was, it was true, a little feeling in some of tho other' centres against the establishment of such an institution, but there were thoughtful men in those centres who realised, us we realised, that the establishment of a National Gallery would give to art in New Zealand tho greatest stimulus it hud ever had, and, indeed, this exhibition gave llieni tho first i'rui's of the decision of tho Government to build up such an institution here. They could never have induced Mr. Baillie to bring out a selection of this quality and magnitude, but for that publicly-announced intention of the Government. It was a clear indication both to him and Mr. Clausen that New Zealand had arrived at a stage in its history when our public men recognised that little further advance could bo made without art. No political economist worthy of llio name would ignore art as a factor in the progress of his country. Somo said: "I.et us have tho useful arts, ond wo con do without the fine arts," but great writers hud insisted that you could not really draw a distinction between tho useful and the fine arts any more than you could separate use and beauty in nature, and all nature was beautiful. The State had done a great deal for us, and Wellington had determined to do something in return for the State. This, was Wellington's opportunity. Let us scizo it with both hands. In conclusion he thanked the Government for the grant upon which this fund was founded, and for the practical and sympathetic interest it was showing in the art movement here. Thanks were alsii due lo the Harbour Board for tho loan of the building, and to the City Council for its promised grant. Ho also took this opportunity of publicly thanking Mr. John Baillie for the practical interest ho had

I shown in the work of tho academy sinco lie. left Now Zealand sixteen years ago. Ho was pleawd to say Hie Chamber of Commerce was giving its hearty ami practical support to tho movement. In thanking donors and contributors to tho fund, he remarked there were just a very few who refused to help. Ho would sny nothing in bitterness to them, but would remind them that while they were dnitis nothing the promoters of this project were doing a great deal for them end those who would eome after them. They all hoped this exhibition would lie n event success, and fhat it would result in another step in ndvance for New Zealand. A Call to Citizens. Tin? Acting-Flavor, in declaring the exhibition open, referred to the galleries uf Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide, and of the oilier chief centres of the Dominion as examples of the great value of such institutions to tho community, and ho felt sure that the unique opportunity presented by this array of beautiful pictures would result in tho founding of an art gallery in every way worthy of the capital city. It was "tho duty of every citizen to contribute according to his means, and it was surely not too much to expect such an important district as Wellington eitv and province to raise 'the .£5OOll which would sccuro the City Council grant of .£IOOO. Ho said ho had known Mr. liaillio ironi boyhood, and had followed his career with interest, and this fine exhibition was a proof that tho Academy had Iwon wise in entrusting such a responsible task to him. Mr. Lanrensoii said it gavo him great pleasure to be present at so interesting and important a function. Ho w;as strongly of the opinion that this Doiuini#» had arrived at a stage _ when a Nati»nal Art Gallery was essential for the full and proper dovelopmcnt of the people, and ho felt tnro tho peoplo ot WollinsUn would not be slow to siizc tho unique opportunity that now presented itself to do! their share in laying tho foundations of a groat and noblo institution. Thore veto pooplo so utilitarian in thoir ideas as to express tho opinion that tho fino arts woro a useless oxcrosconce, but ho would remind all who hold that view of the words of one of tho greatest writers and thinkers of /ho nineteenth centurv, John Ruskin, wljo said that "110 country can bo great without Industry, and that Industry without Art is a brutality." Nature had perhaps been more lavish with hur gifts in this country than in anv othor part of the world, and j it behoved "them as a nation to inculcate) a deep and abiding lovo of all that beauty iu tho people, lie wished the present movement: tho great success that it do-Mayor-elect, in a brief, forceful speech, also emphasised tho importance of ilio tine art.s ill tho life of the cnmniuhity. Ho congratulated tho Academy on its onterprise in promoting this exhibition, anil expressed tho liopo that tho present movement would result in the founding of an institution of great valuo to tho nation. ~ Mr. Baillio, in response to calls, thanked tho previous speakem for their appreciative references to himself, and said it had been n great pleasure to him to have had this opportunity to do something which lie felt would" ultimately prove to bo of real valuo to his nativo country.