THE OTAGO ART SOCIETY'S EXHIBITION.

Evening Star, Issue 4273, 6 November 1876, Page 2

THE OTAGO ART SOCIETY'S EXHIBITION.

SECOND NOHOI. The exhibition haV since its' opening proved very attractive; a goodly number ©f the public, having already visited it both during the day and evening. It is to be regretted, however, that the gaflery is so poorly lighted as to prevent many of the works at the ends of the room from being seen as well as they otherwise might be. We suggest that a few additional jets of gas he P u * * n », ** the cost would be comparatively trifling, 1 and they would, -we feel assured, have a most beneficial effect. We resume our notices on the pictures exhibited. No. 19, "The. Entrance to Milford Sound,"byJ. ! Gully, is a grandly treated -subject. The view, apparently, is taken from what 1b known as the Narrows, and thei stupendous, height of the cliffs on either side is admirably indicated by the artist. The light streams into theSeund fromtheleft, givingarioh effect to the beetling crags in the middle distance. The . tremendous snow-clad range of the Hollyford Mountains forms an appropriate background to. this most impressive picture, which is one of Mr Gully*s best. ..No. 26, "A Study of Cabbage Trees/' by W. F. Huddlestone, is remarkable |or its truth and the painstaking character of its treatment,, and is just the kind of honest work we hope in future exhibitions to see examples.of. It is well worthy of a close inspection. Mr -G'ftrien has two pretty little sketches on Magstaff Hill (32 and 33), the play of light and shade on the tussock-clad hill being especially good. No. 36, "The Double Cone,?; Remarkable Ranges/' is one of Mr Hoytes' best pictures. It is treated under an effect of BLoonlight. The light is thrown with considerable artistic: feeling' oh the upper part of the mountain, and falls on the patches of snow, the buttress-like flanks oi the hill receiving it at the same time in a more soft and diffused manner. A small pool of water, with rock and herbage, forms the foreground, in which, however, to bur thinking, there is rather more color than ought to be introduced in '*ri effect of this kind. <No. 38, "On Lake Manipori," an oil sketch, is a very fair treats ment of a wild, gloomy effect on the lake. Mrs Davidson's "Lake Scene" (No, 39) would have been much improved had she introduced a boat on the water or a figure on; the road. In other respects she has ? suc-r ceeded in giving an expression of great' transparency to her work. No>. 48, "Wellington Harbor," is, we are informed, a "field sketch" by Bishop Nevill, and in its manner Bhows that his. lordship is no mean artist.; We hope to see a few finished productions from his brush. No. 53 is a sketch on the Mblyneux River, and is a good illustration of the remarkable fidelity of Mr Arthur-to truthfulness of perspectiye outline and detail.. No. 64: " J)unedin froihthe Asylum Grounds •" J. Irvine. In this picture the artist has given us a scene known to almost all. A bright sunny day, | children playing about the worthy keeper, and a friend strolling combine to : render this a very pleasing composition. No! 62: '• A Shady Nook on the Water' of Leith;" by P. Power. A word of praise is due to Mr Power for the painstaking manner in which he has drawn the bush and overhanging foliage; it shows a marked im provement on his earlier works. ''■ We would, however, suggest to him''that a scale of color less gaudy would be more pleasing to the eye and truer to nature. 77: "BoMs Cove; Lake Wakatipu," is by J. 0. Hoyte. This picture occupies the central position in the hall; it is a fine composition, well and artistically managed. The spectator stands on a woodedf promontory looking "down iiito one j of those charming little bays, so numerous on the Lake; to the left; towering to the skies, is seen the great Remarkable Range, and through the bush, Mount Cecil,' The picture is full ef good work, and well deserves its prominent position in the gallery. M* Hoyte's otherjpicture, "The ©tfia Glacier," i\0.86, - next deserves notice.

The roaring torrent, the snow-topp'd till'' '■ Inspiring awe, is here reproduced with great care: Mr Hoyte has successfully caught the effect, and the picture 'does him great credit. The ice is truthfully- rendered, the green tinge of the crevasse being happilydepicted.VThis Etak is, we believe, the summit/ No, 104> yC. D. Barraud, is a scene on a river; the* play of light on the cliffs is charmingly; rendered.. On the grassy point and just within the shade of the taU birch trees* two cows may be seen. The picture on! a .whole is very harmonious and full of i artistic feeling. .107, V Castle is, in many respects,'.one of the best amateur] productions in the gallery,. Miss Holmes Jhas successfully caught the grey tone of our mountain scenery.. The introduction, 'too/ of the stockman driving his meb of cattle gives an air of yeri-Bimuitude to the same; and invests it with an animation which adds greatly to the value of the work asa,landscape, 115: Mr Brown exhibits a group of well-! painted flowers -~-moss roses aud^raniums — ;in respect te which especially notice the delicate and truthful, manner in which the geranium leaves are painted. 1101 "The Yalley of the.Hunter," a RpUandf is a sepia drawing, somewhat stiff inanainner, but bearing of great fictelfty in drawing.;:.-.,. ■ ;,,„« ,- u,jL ;«■.,: .^ i:/t i-.. The two'imperfect notices W.ehave given do not, by any means, exhaust; the honest criticism the exhibition is'entitled to, and, therefore, 'as opportunity ' ; f : H