NEW ZEALAND ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 3, 29 September 1920, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS

NOTES ON THE EXHIBITS, (By "The L:iy figure."),.'" . . IV. V - THE' SCULPTURE. ' / v Plastic art is represented. this. year I)}' some exceptionally interesting, work. In point of artistic importance and !»s»«* interest, Mr. Ellis's line/bust of the liight Hon. W.'l'. Masscy _is Uie most notable exhibit. The sculptor, b. attempt to susrgost character has been v.cry successful The bust shown a,fine breadth • of modelling, firmness without hpdnass, ' the strong vitality of the subject .is thwe. A realistic .eifect obtained bj. dose attention to the planes. In Kirtsy ■ /(317a) Mt. Ellis has obtained grace and tenderness of form. Note the ornamental ' treatment of the hair. The pianos and ' essential dotails have boon , ° 'served in getting the appearance ot flesh. ' The Strait bust (818), by that valued " contributor to this section, Miss.Ethel ■'F 'Gyles, is a line example ot plastic au, ' the planes being .managed in a worknian- ' like "manner. The head is '.■.sound.•construction, and > c i, l . den^ U p good likeness of llio sitter. The g P Charity," by the same, artist, is an excellent bit of modelling, showing, as.it does! much variety in the lines andA "Decorative Head" (incorrectly • styled a "statuette" in the catalogue), by Miss Margaret.Butler, is a very chairn- • ing effort. The suggestion cf ■is excellent, and the ■modelling generallj more particularly m the'face is ru ,V ,-ful. Both in sentiment and style the head is evidently the result ot thoughtful study and discriminating worlc. Mr A. Bender's bas-relief (319) is well fl nd 'carefully drawn, and in other, respects possesses line quality. The Uijns tion from cne plane to another about the eyes and temple is gentle and easj. A capital example of low re lief. Mia A. r. Bellamy's head in r^< rf «• sound in construction and■ surfnec-model-lS and although less Whan the style adopted by Mr. Bender, -there: i=, nevertheless, a delicacy in the treatment of the details and the" drawing which «m«t lie admired. Considered as a lihile, it isa mysound and satisfying piece of work.