ART FOR WELLINGTON.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1425, 27 April 1912, Page 10

ART FOR WELLINGTON.

A PRIVATE VIEW. Yesterday "U" Shed, was a revelation of unexpected tilings to those who visit> ed it to too the Baillie collection. Imagination had failed to picture that shed as an ideal place in ;vhich to view works of art, but, when one camo to wo it, one could only conclude that it would have been difficult to have iound a mors satisfactory place. A good idea of what it would lie like had been gained at the private view on Sunday, but tlio reality exceeded one's anticipation. The management of tha light was a triumph. The galleTy runs the full length of the shed, directly beneath tha skylights, which form the roof, and these skylights have been completely covered with while gauze or muslin, so that a very soft anil clear light floods tlio com* partments into which the gallery hag been divided. The walls have been tinted in ros'o grey, savo in first compartment, which is green in colour, and, upon tlioso walls, (he pictures have been hung, not one of them being too high to too without «?a-)\ Of tlio hanging— of the amount of thought, attention to detail and consideration of effoet—proljably not many havo much conception. The least that ouo can tay of it is that it would bo a carping critic who would find fault with what has been done. Even with tlio tlirco rooms or compartments, and the little auto-room, at the entrance set aside for black and white work, thcro has not be\n space enough to enable Jlr, Baillio to liaiig all that he has brought out. Although tlio view was nominally a private one, the gallery was well filled with people, all of whom were eager to view the pictures, and inclined to grudge tin time which was taken up by the spceclics, llowevcr, speeches and a public event (one might in this cose say national event) inevitably go together, and with art and beauty to inspire the speakers, and the strong hope of appealing to tlio public spirited among their audience, they made their plea, for (ho encouragenient of art in this country. It would be difficult to imagine anyone being satisfied with one visit to tho gallery, or many more than that even. The 1 more that is seen of it the stronger will its inducements to go again and again make themselves felt to many people. To march round from room to room and wall to wall, to try and see as much as one possibly can at a time is to blur the whole effect of the pictures, and give the gazer mental or colour indigestion. Tho collodion is so representative a one, and covers so extensive a ground in its appeal that it could not fail to give pleasure to. all, whether they are of artistio tendencies, or of those wlio consider thornselves destitute of sucli a temperament, i It was quite dclighlf|il to sec during the afternoon red wafers marking tho corners of quile a number of the pictures. It was felt that it wiis only needed that pco-. pie should see them and scepticism and doubt about their artistic merit wduld be removed., ■ One of the results of there being so many large pictures is that the smaller ones are rather Jikel.y ,ut first 4o bo overlooked,' and it "would 1 ' well' repay visitors to the gnller.v- 10tUii^c\ ; visits devoted t'o thehr ijnlyV'as I^ ''there, are i somo extremely beautiful ones. Quito 1 '? tiny ones they are, some of tlieni, but well worthy their attention. Tho temptation lo particularise some of the paintings is almost irresistible, but it would result .possibly in filling many columns.. .Today the collection will be opened to the public, and everyone will have tho opportunity of seeing for themselves what Mr. Baillie lias brought to Wellington. When it is realised what an asset a good Art Gallery would be to Wellington, and what an attraction to visitors as ono of the sights of the city, and what an inducement to them to como here, as a I business proposition only it should make | a strong appeal, apart from any other i.view of the matter.