ART ACADEMY'S REPORT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1528, 26 August 1912, Page 2

ART ACADEMY'S REPORT.

AN IMPORTANT YEAR. FOUNDATION OF NATIONAL GALLERY. The twenty-third annual report of the Neiv Zealand Academy of Vino Arts is a notable one, inasmuch as it has to chroniclo the achievement of baring formed the nucleus of a National Art Gallery for New Zealand—an object near and dear 1 to many of tho members of tbo council and others interested in art in Wel- • lington. Tho membership for tbo year (tbo report states) stands higher than that at any other period c-f tho history of the academy. Thero avo now on tho books ■i life, 212 subscribing, and 30 artist members, being an increase of 1 life, 18 subscribing, and 11 a.rtist members. Tho ordinary expenditure for tho year (,£273 9s. Cd.) was balanced by the income 1 (,£275 25.). Tho accumulated ftinds have further been swelled by the sum of ,£323, i increase shown as the result of a careful ■ preparation of a list of the works in the . permanent collection, with their prices or values. It is evident that in former years additions made to tho collection nave been overlooked in tho recounts. To tho accumulated fund is also added . .C 5510, represented by tho national col- • lection. There is also .£30!) 10s. 3d. at present, unexpended in tho picture fund ' account. > The usual large number of works were sent in to tho annual exhibition, 370 being exhibited. The number of works sold was >15. An interesting sketch exhibition was held in July, lflll, when 275 sketches were exhibited. The permanent collection has been added to by the presentation of tjio last picture pninted by the late John Gullv, entitled "Lake Te Allan." For the gift of this fine water-colour, which'is one of the best examples of Gully's work, the'academy is indebted to Hi's. Robert Lee, daughter of tho artist. The report gives an account of the Baillie exhibition of pictures, and tho canvass for funds for a national collection. The total amount raised in money and pictures presented, including tils Government and City Council grants, was J2GIII, exclusive of several valuable pictures not yet deposited in the gallery and a few small amounts promised, but not yet received. The total 'amount raised as tho result of the campaign was approximately ,£O3OO. Tho value of the pictures presented amounts to ,£2680 Is., and of nictures purchased out of the fund ,£2830; total, JE3310 Is. This, however, is exclusive of two further works which have been donated to the gallery—one a picture which, has l«en ordered from lonilon by Mr. John Duthie, and' the other a wi ife by Salvator Rosa, offered for the gallery by Mr. J, N. Williams, of Hastings. The council desires to exoress its gratitude to the Wellington Harbour Hoard for the loan of a building, to tho City Council for its generous grant, to tho public-spirited donors of nietures, and to tho newspaper press of Wellington. Tho oxnenses of the exhibition amounted to .£139 Is. lod., which is considerably moro than made up by tho amount cf JCst3l allowed by Mr. Baillie as share of admissions and commision on sales There is in Ihe picture fund a balance of ,£30!) Ids. 3d. at present unexpended and available for future purchases.. A general meeting will have to be called shortly for the purpose of considering the handing over of all tho pictures in the possession of the Academy to tho Government for the National Gallery. In accordance with tho articles of association. one vice-president (Mr. 11. Linley ■Richardson), four members of the council (Mr. H. TI. Knyivard. Mr. A. T. Pate, Mrs. J. A. Hannah, and Mrs. J. A, Tripe), tbo hon. treasurer (Mr. C. Wilson), and the auditor (Mr. C. D. Morpeth) retire. All are eligible for reflection.