MR A. P. MURPHY'S PAINTING

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2903, 16 October 1916, Page 3

MR A. P. MURPHY'S PAINTING

The walls of two second-floor rooms in Stewart. Dawson's building are at present gay wilh a collection of canvases from the brush of Mr. A. i'. Murphy—mostly views of well-known scenic spots in New Zealand, intersporsed with fanciful bits of sea and sicy, enlivened and humanised by tho white wings of some small craft. Mr. Murphy's stylo and colour schemes bear a remarkable similarity to those of Mr. H. \Y. Kirkwood, of .Wangamil; Tildeed, so closely has Mr. Murphy modelled his work on that of tlio artist named that it is difficult, in some instances, to imagine that they do not emanate from the samo brush. Perhaps the work of the Wangauui artist is moro delicate, and surer in - impression, but his disciplo is apt and painstaking, and tho iesult is pleasing in many instances, generally in the smaller paintings. Placid sound scenery, with the sheer mountain-sides clothed' in furry bush; is a familiar subject with Mr. Murphy. Such a painting is that of Dagg's Sound. Lake To Anau is another pretentious, painting with good points, and tho view of "Luke l'ukaki" skilfully executed iu light early uiorniug tones is nicely atmospheric, Away from tho Kirkwood mood aro a couple of large seascapes—oue a stretch of scudding wavos off Palliscr Bay—that suggest strength and artistic purpose, away from the smooth prettinesses that affects the work of so many painters of New Zealand's rugged fastnesses, to their artistic detriment.