N.Z. ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 2, 28 September 1920, Page 5

N.Z. ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS

NOTES ON THE EXHIBITION "THE WATER COLOURS (By the lay Figure.) 111. Regarded as a whole, the water-colour lection this year arouses a feeling of some disappointment. Some few drawings pi quite conspicuous merit are undoubtedly to be found, but .these come as all too infrequent oasea. There aro too many wido expanses of banality in motif ana mediocrity in execution. It seems a pity that the Hanging committee should nave deemed it necessary to divide the watercolours, as has been done. By selecting bo many of the best drawings for exhibition in 'the main gallery, the committee has given the upstairs room a terribly starved appearance. To c«U this room a ' Chamber of Horrors would be unfair, for amidst muoh crude, weak, and amateurish work there are scattered hero and there drawings of ilno finality and decided interest! but although these may stand out prominently, as ''nice deeds in a naughty (artistic) world," I cannot help thinking it would have been wiser to keep all tho work in one medium by themselves. Downstairs, in this section, interest oentres round the work of Mrs. Hughes, Miss Stoddart, Miss FJora Scales, and Sir. Weeks.. Mrs. Hughes's "Spring Morning" ia unmistakably the strongest and most successful exhibit in tho water-colours section. The artist has achieved strength and dignity by a direct method. Mrs. Hughes's sure eye tJid rnastery of medium lias here and there enabled her to use email touches of pure primary oolours without in any way. producing a positive effect. I regard the- drawing its an excellent example of the juxtaposition of oolours. .

Miss Stoddart's work still suffers from weak aerial perspective, but the fault is not so apparent as in her last year's work. Her sense of' colour is as strong end as productive of charming effect as ever. Two of her drawings at the northern wall, "Spring near Akuroa" (170), and "A Stream from K.uapehu" (172), must rank amongst the best l work we have had from the Ohrisfcchurc'h artist of late years.

Miss Flora Scales, whose desertion of the animal studies wo have learnt to associate with her brush is, I trust, only temporary, contributes two slight but pleasing drawings, "A Sunny Morning" (182) and "The Two Sentinels" (183). Both aro very delightful in their delicate atmos-' Mr. J. Weeks, one of' tho soldier artists, and an outsider whose work, will become a regular feature cf the Academy's oxlvbition, sends some specially interesting draw- • fngs,. notably a. very charming nocturne which evokes memories of Lee Hankey's fine .oil in the permanent collection, but is evidently an original transcript from reality. This is "Nocturne, near Hazebrouck, France" (lE0)i At the risk of being considered captious, I think it would have ■been' better for greater strength in the foreground. ' Of Mr. Weeks's other contributions, "Evening Light, Surrey" (143), is the most successful. .•

Mr. Nugent Welch's water-colours, eiirht'in number, have found great favour' with the public. Mr. Welch is now definitely to be ranged ahionsst 'the "beßt sellers." It may seem audacious to dispute the ruling of the majority, but whilst cordially admitting the attractiveness of these drawings as decorations for the walls of a drawing room, I fail to find in them any. great sincerity of pictorial representation of nature. In tho largest drawiner,: "A Wind-swont Corner" (131), a. Tariant of a motif which by this time might well bo given a rest, there are all the approved features of a "best seller" composition— gnarled trees, a little sweep of sea, rolling clouds, and an art-fully-placed bit of blue Bky. "O'est magnifique"—as a proof of skilfully arranged and contrasted detail, but it is scarcely tho artistic "euerre." Mr. Welch can and ought to give us something more, direct, more virilo, than this sort of thing. Ha is at his best, this year, to my mind, in "Cliffs, Ohau Bay," in which the drawing Is admirable,- everything being strongly and clearly set down, with less of the suggestion of meticulous atlpnline in the colouring. ■

Miss D. IC-Bichmond is represented by some highly charaoterlstlo and. on the whole,. very interesting work. Her large drawing. "Bnanehu from Wairiri Str»-

(JO), is a transparent, honest, and laudably successful transcription from nature. A spesdal note of praise is due to the clever handling of tho difficult cloud-bank effect running acroßß the mountain. Mr. Linley Richardson's elaborate study of children with Coy ai? balloons (164) has ». very charming decorative effect. The ■tiny, balloons are most realistic in their bnoyanoy, and' the colour scheme generally almost fragrant in its freshness. In ono of the children's legs there seems, however, to he something wrong in the drawing. The same artißt's "Thoughts" ,(165), & girl's figure, is one.of tho most charming studies of children Ifr. Richardson Haß yet given u«. Some nmali drawings, rather in Hie stylo of A. W. Eich, by the gams artist, are interesting, and the excellent dry point etching, "The Leopard" (184), hung upstairs, should no* be overlooked.

Mr. Murray Puller's work shows a decided advance in quality. His street scenes, of which '"Fcatherßton Street" (167) is the moit successful, constitute an agreeable new departure in local art. _ The older members of the Academy will i'oin me in welcoming the work of Mrs. I'lndoe (Miss Mabel Hill), at one timo a regular and much-esteemed contributor to the Academy's exhibitions. To her flue portrait of thn late Mr. Kairn separata allusion i» made, Mrs. M'lndoe's small drawings on the eastern wall are ail worthy of close iiVPe&ion. The colour it fresh -and there is an engaging vivacity in the treatment generally. A Christchuroh artist, Mr. A. E. Baxter, l» to bo complimented on the two drawings, "Into the Light" (134 a), in which the colour and atmosphere are distinctly Australian, and "Sydney Heads" (125), this latter one of tb* best of Iho smaller water colours this year. It is sp firmly set down, so free from tricklness of any Kind.

Mr. M'Cracken's "Portrait of a Lady" (173) is a particularly successful figurestudy whioh has been deservedly admired by visitors to the show, and the same artist's two small Luideoape studies, "Evev ing at Newlyn" (151) and "Tho First of Spring" (162)-more particularly the latter —have the qualities of good sound work. The only, one of Mr. Wallworth's watercolours given the honour, of a main gallery place is a well-drawn head of ''A Kest African" (159). Upstairs' Mr. Wallworth is represented By two excellent drawings. The oloud etteots in "Stormy weather, Lako M'anapouri" (281) are «x----ceptionally well FBmlerc'd. . Mr. A. P. Nicoll, slightly disappointing in his oils, sends a large drawing» "Tantallon ToworB" (178),' which 1b .possessed-of a fine romantic Savour, and has two pleasant little bits of New Zealand'landscape. Downstairs Mr. 0. F. Worsley is scarcely represented by; Ida best work. His ''italian Lake Scene" (123) is a masterpiece of smooth prettiness, Int this genre of watercolour leaves mo very cold. Upstairs, on the opntrary, Mr. Worsley has one of ths strongest and best drawings ho has ?7 e , r ~ 3 l°^ n ■)> Wellington. "Solduna, Italy (214). It is hung too high, and certainly should have round a placo in tho main gallery. In the grouping aDd separate drawing of tho figures (it is a courtyard scene), and in the cleverlymanaged broken light, this is really a very fine drawing, immeasurably superior, in its sheer eraftmanship, to many of the drawings downstairs.

Upstairs, also, is an exceptionally interesting drawing by Dr. Fell, "A Berkshire Landscape' (232), which ia ono of Hie strongest and best tbinis wo have ever bad from this artist. As a study of English landscape under a murky sky It is an ovidcutly sincere and conviaciuE •flort.

Spaco limitations dictate sternest brevity wi-th regard to other exhibits, only a few of which can hero receive attention. Of Miss Violet Nelson's flguro studies 1 prefer her portrait of "Bheila Sinclair" (297). Her ballerinas, and fancy-dress studies are reminiscent of similar work in such weeklies as "Tho Tatlor," "The ''Sketch,' 'arid "Tho Bystander." Mr. Herdman Smith is acrecably topoBxajjhic in his Corni6h and Yorkshire studies. Hlb "Villaee in Wharfedalo" (209) Is bis best, A special word of praise iB duo to Miss Betty Riflnd's firmly set down, well painted landscape on the left-hand wall (near of the stairs, I have forgotten the number). In "(loblm Mamet" the suggestion of a Backhaul influence is rather ton annarent. • ■ Conscientious work is sent by our old friend W. Menzies Gibb. He has his conventions and keeps ".-ell within them, but all his .work is sound in drawing and free from either flamboyance or trickiness in Its colour. There is not one of these charming; restful drawings which would not be a most desirable possession iu any home. Messrs. A. E. Baxter and E. VTalworfc contribute agreeable, if not specially notable draw.ineß, and I like Miss E. M. Mimdays "Farmyard" (271), a pretty bit of weU-manaced oolour. Mr. Esmond Atkir.Bon's study of 6tormy leather in the North Sea (233) carries with it a convinoine effect of the erininesß of tho subjeot.

.Hiss If. Lee's, work shows a distinct advance this' year. 'On tho Roofs, Tanslers" (870), and "Lincoln Cathedral" (274). aro both most promising.

Of Mrs. Elizabeth Kelly's small watercolours I prefsr "Evening, Manapouri" (220), which has a \ery charminj effect of spaoiousness. Mr. Wm. Barraud's "A Devonshire Lane" (200); Miss Sosa fiawtrell's "Peeo Through the V7adestowp Outtinjr" (240); Miss Margaret Butler's "The Green Coat" (257); and Miss Mary Atkinson's "fork Bay" (275) aro all worthy of inspection. Tto loon exhibits should bo mentioned. Th» furt U Kri. Hindoo's (HhW MAbel

Hill's) fine portrait of tho late Mr. .1. M. Nairn, nn extremely successful and satisfying pioce of portraiture. Tho- likeness is excellent and everyone who evor know tho amiable and talented "Jimmy" ■will Join me In congratulating tho council upon itß purchase of a picture at onco an admirable work of art and a, most suitablo memorial of a, charming personality. Tho oaricature rtrtroit of Mr. Nußent Welch .by P. G. Held, "Nuse" (191) is a capital bit of work In its own genre. Mr. Reid has evidently a flft for caricature.