N.Z. ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 8, 4 October 1918, Page 6

N.Z. ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS

ANNUAL EXHIBITION.

The academy members' privato view and tho official opening of the exhibition by His Honour the Chief Justice (Sir iiobert Stout K.C.M.G.) will take placo at tho Art Gallery, WJiitmore Street, at 8.30 this evening. The j Academy Council decided some timo ago to purchase a work at this year's show, for the permanent collection, and at a meeting held yesterday a selection was maue. The unanimous choice was for a largo canvas of "Tho Citadel, Cairo," by Archibald F. Nicoll, S.S.A. This fine work will, therefore, become a possession' for tho public, and that its purchase will find approval from the art lovers of Wellington may be taken for granted. The council's selection is a happy one. Mr. Nicoll is a New Zealander, and, as marks of the battlefield show, he has done his "bit" against the Turk and tho Hun.

The galleries are 'fairly filled with work's in oil and water-colour from artists in every part of New Zealand and from the Royal Art' Society of New South Wales there is a lino collection of work which is of exceptional merit and of great interest. To many, no doubt, interest will centre in works from the-private collections o? Wellington citizens—the portrait of Colin Cameron, a worthy Scot, limned by the hand of the great Scottish painter, Sir Henry Bneburn, 11.A., lent by Mrs. James S. Holmes; the Turner, a view of the Dogana (the Mart of Commerce), Venice, and one of Morland's characteristic works, lent by Colonel H. J. Purdy, Director of Medical Services; also the Van der Veldens, lent by Mr. Herbert Barr. The generous action of these (friends of the academy will be greatly appreciated by the public as well as by the artists, to .rhom, of course, the opportunity of seeing works by men of world-fame, is by no means a frequent one.

To-morrow the exhibition will bo cp».'ii to the public from 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., and in the evening from 7 to 0.30. Tickets in the members'. 10s. art union. to be drawn to-morrow evening at 8.30, may be obtained from the sccletary.

The public art union tickets, Is., will be on sale at the Art Gallery during the course of the exhibition.