ACADEMY OF PINE ARTS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2233, 20 August 1914, Page 8

ACADEMY OF PINE ARTS

■ COUNCIL'S ANNUAL REPORT; ' The annual report of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts states that thero are now on the books three life, 213 subscribing, and 85 artist members; and some fresh.names have been added since the close of .the year. At the annual exhibition,. in last October, the number of u'orks sold was 36, amounting in value to £206, as against thirty, of a' value of £161, the previous year.- Although .these figures, show an increase on those of the previous year, the results are nevertheless somewhat disappointing, and it is boj>ed that the public will afford a more, liberal measure of encouragement to' artist members at the forthcoming'exhibition. .During the year the following works wero added to the collection,: "Study of a: Lion" (C. E. Swan), presented by W. F." Barraud; "A Dutch Canal" (E. M. Hodgkins), presented l by private subEoribers; : L 'The Hill-top" (F. M. Hodgkins), purchased from the-Picture Fund; ''The Morning Muster" (N. Welch), purchased from the Picture Fund. Since the close of ,the year the academy ; was able,' owing to -the generosity of, Miss Mary Newton, who lent .the mpn»y for the purpose, to purchase from the Baillie Collection a bronze cast, !'The Age of Innocence," by A. ; Drury,,R.A., aijd a fine collcction of lithographs and etchings by representative artists. The thanks of the academy' are duo to Mr. W. F. Barraud and other members'fortheir generous donations; also to Mr. T. S. Weston for the loan of three interesting works by. modern Italian artists. The academy has ' also to express :: its- ' thanks . to' the City. Council for a renewal of the annual grant, of. £50 towards the upkeep of the Art Gallery, which is 'open to the public, on/six afternoons in the week; ' The following nominations have been •received' for tho offic.es vacant': —Vicepresident, H. L: Richardson'arid A. T. Bate; council, H. L. Richardson, : J. M-'Donald', F. Sedgwick, A. Atkins, P. \Y. 13, Hodgkins; A: T. Bate, W. A. Bowring, T. Buick, J. Ellis, Mrs. J. A'. Hannah;, hon. treasurer, P. Hodgkins and If. Sedgwick; auditor,' Or D.Morpoth. The'balance-rsheet for the year shows income to the amount pf £674 2s. 9d., and expenditure. to that amount less £26 16s. 9d., paid into the accumulated funds. The total assets of the academy .are set down'as Valued at £10,643 Bs;' 3d:' (of which amount tho. permanent and natioral collections of pictures represent £9355-75.), and the liabilities show' an accumulated fund of £10,282 12s; Bd., a "transfer from t-be Picture Fund of £234'd165. ,4d. (leaving that fund at £3 195.; 3d.), and an amount of £106.165. spent on additions to the national collection'.'' . The council-has taken into serious consideration the necessity of enlarging the present gallery, which, owing to: the increase in our membership, is quite inadequate for tho purposos of the academy. As the Government,,in consideration of our-providing accommodation for .'the nations) collection until the Doniinion, Art' Gallery is ready for its in-, ceptioh, has promised a grant of £600 towards the cost of building, there is every prospect .that tho extension of the gallery will;be completed within the next few months. ... .: .Obituary.—The council has with' deep regret to record the death of four pf its members—viz., Mrs. A. 'Rhodes, who -was elected a life member ,as "a mark of appreciation of tho generous, assistance, rendered by her .to 'ttie'.afca? demy in its early days; Mr. A; Hamilton, who at the time of his death'was one of'.the council's most fenergetic'. and enthusiastic workers; Mr! C. Gore, a subscribing member; and Mr. 1\ Van dor Velden, who was probably tho bldest and - best known of tlio Australasian painters, and whoso powers as an artist., aze recognised in the older countries of the world; . ' '