N.Z. ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 10, 6 October 1917, Page 3

N.Z. ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS

NOTES ON THE PICTURESTHE 7 WATER-COLOUHS. [By "The Lay 'Figure.' , ] 'We ivater-coloure are more numerous this year than the oils, but there are few pictures of any real distinction. The tendency to eschew legitimate water-col-our work, and to get "oil effects" by use of body-colour- setms to be growing. Also, there is far too much weak drawing. In some instances this is responsible for quite ludicrous effects. Amongst much (sloppy, careless irork it is good to notice the- sound, honest drawing aod refined colour'of Mr. Worsley's and Mr. Sinclair's contributions. Mr. Worsley's Denrent Water pictures, Nos. 63 and 103, are excellent in composition ; the larger ono (103) is one of the best things Mr.' Worsley.hns yet given us, and tfie lushness. of the river-side meadows in No. 96, "The Biver Wye," is admirably suggested. In the Italian subjects, especially in "The Market Place, Brescia" (-1), there is some stitt'uess in the figuree. Mi , . Sinclair, a South Australian artist, now visiting Now Zealand, ■ not for the first time, sends several interesting pictures, mostly from eketches made in the Old Country. His "Old Bridge, Baia, North Wales" (8), and. his "On the Marshes, Barmoiith" (102), are quiet, restTut pictures. In the "Village Street Scene" (No, 17) there' is good, sound drawing nud pleasant colour. Miss Stpddart, of Christchurch, long ago established her own conventions, and remains faithful to them. Her most ambitious picture - this year, "Evening, Lyttleton Harbour" (No. 92), .strikes me as being merely a, murky mess, and in her "Mount ftolleston" (107) the background is far too. strong. In the smaller pictures, however. Miss Stoddart gives some very delightful work. "The Almond Tree, Clifton" (89), and "Cherry Tree Farm, Akaroa," may or may not be true to Nature, but they are delightful from a purely pictorial point of view. The over-vivid blue, of the water in "The Stream" (90) is. regrettable; otherwise a delicately, charming effort. '• In complete contrast to Miss Stoddart's brilliant colour are the quiet, dignified greys and browns of Mr. A. F. Nichol, now at. the front. His war-zone scenes, mined towers of French churches, and so forth, are painted in a key of wellrestrained realism. All Mr. Nichol'* pictures, and notably the one near the door, "Bleringhani, Armentieres" (No. 3), may be classed as pure water-colour. The eubjects are scarcely so picturesque and "popular" as the Caireno scones in last year's show, but anything Mr. Nichol signs is instinct with a. certain indefinable distinction. A young Chrielchurch artist, whose good work in the oils section Imentioned in an earlier article, contributes an exoeedingly promising" landscape, "'Twixt the Shadow, and the Sunshine" (No. 5). Mr. Wauchop's style in water-colour is somewhat reminiscent of the late Mr. A, V/. Walsh. If he studies and works Tiard ne will be an artist to bo uckone<i with as timo , goes on. Mr. B. AVallwork's excellent littlo picture/Tidal Stream near Brannton, North Devon" (74) has been much admired. To my mind, it is easily the . best email-sized drawing in this section. Tiie composition is well balanced, and .the colour delightful. ' ' Miss D. K. Richmond deserves special congratulation upon the 'excellence of her water-site studies this year, quite the best work we have had from this lady for the past Hires or four years. The treatment is refined, though at no sacrifice of strength. Whoever bought No. 45, "S.Y. Aurora," secured what should be a joyful and much-treasured possession. There, is great tenderness of feeling in the study of a vessol well back in the picture. The atmospheric ott'oct is peculiarly charming (No. 41, J. thvnlc). I. am glad to notice the red seal on four of .'Miss .Bichniond's . contribu-tions;-—There are -still-throe loft, but all:.should'be Void before the exhibition closes." .j. ;~.',r. .1... -~ ■ ■ '■ There'are two-pictures by the wellknown professional artist, Miss F. M. Hodgkirw, which I think Miss Hotlgkins's friends have been very ill-advised to send in at all. In 89. "Washerwomen, Brittany," there is positively no porspectivo, no attention to values. The water nt the back appears to be going up-hill, and the figure in front is positively chaotic in its anatomy. It is,impossible to take such a crude and formless composition seriously. Miss Hodgkine's other )icture, "Tunny Boats, Concarncau" (No. Iβ) is not quite so bad, but here again there is u glaring contempt for accurate drawing. / ~~ Tho sketches by Mr. C. Y. Fell and Mr. Owen Mertob hang near those of Miss Richmond—in what might be called the "white frame corner"—and do not call for much comment. Mr. Merton seems to have fallen away tho last year or two. Such productions as "The Old Barn". (38) and "Carpenter's Shop, Bye" (40) are ■not calculated to'enhance Mr. Merton's reputation. And his many old admirers have had such hopes of him His best contribution is 'TCye Harbour, Sussex" '(61), and oven this is weak and commonplace as compared with his work of, say, 'our or five years ago. Mr. C. Y. Fell's little "bits from the Pyrenees region are pleasant aniateur productions. A -weakness in drawing spoils more than one of them. The best is, I think, "Church at Sirach" (34). It would have been far better had it possessed a foreground. As it is, the picture seems to begin in the middle distance. Close by Miss Richmond's clever drawings is a sketch in- tempera by Miss Minna Arndt (Mrs. Manoy). An effect of flatness is here far,too much in evidence. Tho whole composition runs straight up and down. Most disappointing from an artist of Mrs. Miinoy's wellproved ability. A lady artist whose work shows great promise is Mrs. Baird Tribury. Her subjects are well chosen, and most of her work is -really good strong water-colour. Note No. 11, ,( 'Our Distant Point," with it? *»uoyaaiE water, "When Life is Gay (No. 1G), Ind."A Beachy Meadow" (No. 86) All these are water-colours well above the ruck of amateur work. Mr W Bowring's pastel, band and Sunlight"' (No. 19) is a courageous experiment, but hardly successful. On the other hand, tho same artist's Tlocks at Muritai" (No. 108) is in many ways an admirable production. It is-strong, vigorous, and definite, and eminently pleasing in colour, Mr C. H. ■Howarth.sends quite a number of small-sized sketches of Alpine scenery, all very pleasantly pictonul, all no doiibt topographically correct. Sevoral have been sold. In "Mt. Sefton, fTom Governor's Bush" (No.- 60). this artist seems to me to bo at his best, but all these sketches are sound m drawing and VigrpeuMe to the.eye. Mrs J. A. Tripe's fine figure study, "The Top of the Hill" (57), and her charming portrait'of Mrs. .1. Ilott and her little son, have, both been greatly admired by. visitors to the exhibition Mrs. Tripe is also represented by some small landscape drawings, of -wlucn "Summer" (70) pleases me best. It is quite in the Nairn style. Miss Flora Scales does not often essay water-colour. . Her little drawing A Quiet Glade" (No. 112), has some delightful colour. . Mrs E Hughes's fino picture, I»e Road to the Lake" (114) is badly overframed. It is a picture the sound artistic quality of which may not be fully grasped ou a first inspection, and 1 would the artist had made her roadway legs "pattern' Mike. But the delicate restraint of the colour the cxcelleu composition-theso are welcome indeed in a show where there is so much careless yet pretentious work. I must bring these notes to a hasty close or risk editorial displeasure, and what is" even worse, an application of a sub-editorial "blue pencil." Mr. Blythe I Fletcher's opulence of colour does not compensate for weak drawing. His "Eastern Courtyard" (21) is a pleasing ° Mr' Baslings must be welcomed back as itn old exhibitor. His "Sawmill" (No. I ■>) seems to lack a definite foreground, I imt the colour is agreeable. -the I filnt-icr" (13) is better, but Mr. Bastings i i-i not at his best in either picture. i Mis* Nelson's delica'to figure studies , placed upstairs) and Mi=s Mary i Creen's faery book studies are well worth inspection. Ti> the work of Mr. E. M. Tnyton,, Miss Jessie Newton, and many others, I regret J cftiuot rofor in detail^