EXHIBITION OF PICTURES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1951, 7 January 1914, Page 6

EXHIBITION OF PICTURES.

\A/;. A FINE COLLECTION. "There is exhibited in Mr, M'Gregor : Wright's gallery in. Lambton Quay a collection of pictures by Mr. W. Andreson, an artist whose work is by no moans unknown in Wellington, although it is ten years since ho painted pictures here. After that visit ho returned to his favourite resorts in Europe, but came back to Now Zealand two years ago and stayed in Christchurch for nine months. Ho painted some 13i) portraits there, and again went for a. visit to Europe, staying at Baslo most of tho time, returning to Canterbury only last February. The. pictures Mr. Andresen now shows aro mainly portrait or figure studies, but ail have a character expressive of tlio artist's special temperament and method. It is his method which is the most striking. To begin with', JlO is original in l«s use- and choice of materials. His foundation is done- with French crayon, and then after he- has ."fixed" the drawing ho uses water colours, and occasionally oils, to get such colours ns he wants. His drawing, Vi branch of art sadly neglected by our young painters in this country, is well iiiffli perfect, and his portraits are probably as true as portraits could over b*. A few of his compositions are also well wotli inspection, notably those_of a group of dancing boys—"Silenius with Fauns," "A Piping Boy," a number of studies of ragged urchins smoking illicit cigarettes or playing surreptitious gnines of cards, and a set of sketches of members of the crew of tho sailing ship on which lie made- his Inst trip Homo, Tho pictures a.ro for safe, but Mr. Aμclresen expects to tako most of them :-with him when ho leaves for Baslo again 'nresontly, and to sell tliem there. Ine nricps range from five guineas for simple small head portraits to 150 guineas.