THE ART EXHIBITION

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2337, 19 December 1914, Page 7

THE ART EXHIBITION

NOTES BY "THE LAY FIGURE" THE OILS, (Concluded.) There is quite a wealth of nude studios this year, the artists represented in tnis genre being principally, if not wholly, Auckianders. The most ambitious of these productions is a large full length study of a female nude figure, No. 259, which is hung close to the entrance. The artist is 'Mr. D. J. Payne, who may be congratulated on a fairly successful treatment of a difficult subject. The hesh . generally is firmly and well painted, But the faco has a mask-like appearance, and the drawing of the left leg is doubtfully correct. Other studies of the nude are contributed by Mr. ¥. M'Cracken, the best being a gaslight study, No. 192. Here the artist has grappled courageously, and on the wnole successfully, with a very difficult lighting problem. Mr, M'Cracken is less successful in his landscape work, of which his best example is No, 210, • "Late Afternoon, Waikato River."

Two canvases which justly evoked admiration on the opening day are the landscapes by Miss C. E. R. an Auckland artist. These are Nos. 190, "Tripiei Road, Etaples" : and 252, "Sand Dunes, Etaple3. -The latter' suffers somewhat from being hung too high, but both will well repay careful study. There is a fine quality of luminous painting in these landscapes, which remind one not a little of Mr. C. M. Padday's sand dune scenes, the handling of the trees, an effective fea-< ture of' both pictures, suggesting the bold effects one sees in the Walton picture in the Wellington Permanent Collection. There is a dignified simplicity of conception in these pictures which atones for a certain hardness perceptible in both.. Two smaller landscapes by the same artist are more conventional in treatment, but in the_"Selsea Beach," No. 196, there is again some excellent work. The Hanging Committee has treated this picture rather harshly in skying it. it is easy to- belittle Mr. Hounsom Byles's piotures of sporting scenes as photographic, but 1 only wish more of our New. Zealand artists were as sound in their drawing as is Mr. Byles, The racing scene, No. 237, "A Good Finish," is vigorously painted, and the horse market scene, hung just abovo it, No. 238, "Critics, is another very successful effort. For Mr. Byles's dancing girl picture, No. 172, I do not care so much, it is slavishly conventional and chromo-like, and in tta samo artist's "Tho Bather," No. 163, there is an effect of hardness and a complete lack of atmosphere. Mr. 0. H. Howorth sends several canvases, representing European scenes visited by him during a recent trip to the Old World. They are all agreeably pictorial,' and clever as to com-, position, for Mr. Howorth's eye for a taking hit is still as keen as ever, but somehow they are strangely lacking in feeling. Mr. Howorth prefers to see Nature in its brightest, most_ highly coloured way, and having seen it reproduces its effects with tho addition of more artificiality than real art. He paints for those who like a pretty picture, and like the "best sellers" of latterday fiction, he has his reward. Of this year's contributions by Mr. Howorth, I prefer Nos. 187, "Friar's Crag, Derwentwater." and 160, "The Jungfrau from Interlaken." But as a possession, I would rather have the little study of biish and gorse wVch he exhibited a couple of years ago than all these Swiss, Italian and English studies of his.

A local artist whose work this year shows decided progress is Mr. F. G. Hood. His best contribution is No. 253, "The Bridge, Silverstream." Here the artist has successfully grappled with a difficult lighting problem. This littlo picture is a distinctly clever achievement..

A Dunedin artist;, Miss Margaret Sale, bas two exceptionally interesting exhibits in this section. Her "Mirror Portrait" is painted in low tones, and with a restrained strength which U eminently pleasing. In another contribution, No. 176, "Summertime," thn artist shows she has a good eye for an effective composition the pose of the finrure beinp; naturally graceful. _ A certain clumsiness in the modelling of the left arm may bo forgiven in view of the. delightful general colour noto. Specially successful is the play of the vivid sunlight on the table. A rod seal was affixed to this picture on theopenine evening. Miss Sa'e also contribute a Tunisian scene, No. 104, and an Italian street c-pno, No'. 2<<7.

"Harvest Time, Fendalton," No. 256, is a rather ambitious canvas by a Christchurch artist; W. S. Wauchop. There' is a' good perspective in this picture i which shows a well-balanced.ar-rangement of tones of golden colour. Mr. Vivian Smith, whose work provoked so much admiration last year, is represented on this occasion by ono very largo canvas, "Chanson Tnste," No. 156, in which the interest is largely decorative. The colour scheme cf blues, greys, and whites is decidedly attractive, and the graceful pose of the figures is commendable. Mr. Smith's second contribution, No". 164,_ "Tho Call," bas evidently been inspired by the war. It possesses .a fine dramatic quality, but many visitors will deem tho colour scheme too harsh in its general eilcet.

Several canvases are contributed by the Academy's secretary, Mr. E. Killick. In more than one the treatment aimed at is purposeful and strong, but achievement has not always re-' warded effort. In Nos. 152, 'Silverstream Pasture," and 174, "Springtime, Silverstream," the artist does some promising work. In each th« treatment is commendably dignified, and thoroughly sound in its quiet naturalism. What Mr. Killick and other young local artists stand in need of is to work alongside a, thoroughly good master, who has himself enthusiasm, plus' sound artistic knowledge, and is willing and a bio to impart the same to his associates-or pupils; Such a man we have never bad in Wellington since Mr. Nairn died. If men like Sedgwick, Garnharm, and Killick could get tho right kind of tuition and inspiration, they would soon do some really oxccllent work. Miss Flora Scales, whoso study of horses was so much admired last year, is represented by a. very charming figure study. No. 200, "The Velvet Dress." The modelling of the face leaves, perhaps, something to be desired, but the lady's dress and tho drapery of the couch, are skilfully handled, and the whole picture is pervaded by a delightfully norvous and sensitive touch. Mr. W. H. Carter, junr., ever industrious, over courageous, sends throe oils this year, all displaying that fine imaginative power which distinguishes this young artist's work. His. "Fairy Pcol," No. 258, is quite idyllic in conception, and the trees are gracefully painted. There are no portraits by Mrs. J. A. Trips this year, which is a decided pity, this artist being represented by an exquisite flowor study, No. 208, "Roses." "Tho Picnic," No. 244, by Miss H. Chapman, is an ambitious production, reminiscent not a little of Miss Bodgkins's hill-top scene in the permanent collection. The composition is all i ic;ht, hut the treatment is harsh to the verge of being repellent. ... .*

Many other piotures must, perforce, ho left unnoticed for want 'of space, but I must not omit a word of praise, for tlie plucky way a local student. E. L. Prince, has tiackled a figure study, No. 255, "A Cup of Tea," is very promising.