A WELLINGTON PAINTER

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 30, 29 October 1921, Page 8

A WELLINGTON PAINTER

NUGENT WELCH EXHIBITION. Pictures of landscapes in peace and in war, from the brush of one painter, occupy the upstairs room at the Art Gallery in Whitmore Street. There are oy-l* a hundred and fifty paintings on view, alnd they represent a large portion of twenty years’ work by the Wellington artist, Nugent Welch. About a third of them are devoted to scenes in France and Flanders —places of permanent historical interest to New Zealanders, because the Dominion’s soldiers lived and fought there during the. Great War. 'Wiese are the property of the Government, for Mr. Welch painted them while acting as official artist. He went away on active service during the early months of the war, and it was a lucky thing for the Dominion that he happened to be "on hand” when the Cabinet decided to secure a pictorial record of the war from the New Zealanders point of view. The other paintings in the present exhibition have been loaned by the owners who are to he found in all parts of the' country. Mr. Welch long ago became recognise.! by the discerning as a lover of nature who possessed exceptional technical ability. With the passing of the years his art has gained in quality and distinction, until to-day the best of his work could hardly be surpassed for its truth and beauty in the of'Nature. He has put so much time and patience into the study of. .®P®“‘ aI J effects—in the country, on the hills, and alon- the coast-at all times and under aU conditions, that he has a unique knowledge of Nature-not only - 11 ® fo ™ B of things, but the very sun it of out of doors Tho layman can recognise and eniov Nugent Welch’s pictures. so true they' are to the everyday b . seaside and the couti-ry; but the art s goes further, for ho explores the charm o'f landscapes that the average man would find devoid of interest - The greatest test of an artists work is a massed collection and with the present exhibition the true genius of Nugent Welch can be recognised.