A COLONIAL AUGUST.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1616, 25 April 1879, Page 4

A COLONIAL AUGUST.

(“ Town u Wo slid some k ■ worth 1 he artist.m obtaining i. Europe., > from notices which u ■ ■ 1,18 English papers received -o jam. our assertion was touct ot. Hio “ Home News,” of Decern. ■*, states that “New South Wales lias . ot hitherto presented much enroll agement tor the development i f art, possibly owing to there being no regular i a’ionul gal.ery for the creation of a proper taste and appreciation of works of real merit, and it is therefore a matter of gratification, as indicative of a better condition in this respect, that some of Mr Raworth’s pictures recently • ealised at aue'ion, in Sydney, as much as 40 and 371 js. each. We can quite understand that unless the colonial artis.s receive a liberal amount of public support, they are not likely to abandon the more remunerative fields of labor, merely for the purpose of developing their genius, and while there is no method such as is pointed out for improving the public taste, is is not surpriaincr that works of real merit should not find a fair field ngnirst the rubbish which is too frequently foisted on the market in the shape of 'cheat) pictures. Forty guineas for a good water colour picture would not, of course, on this side of the globe, be considered a large sum, and judging from some or Mr Raworth’s works that have reached London, we arc not surprised that the colonial price should have reached the sum named. His pictures of Australian and New Zealand scenery are exceedingly beautiful, most of them being representations of nature at moments when it is most radiant in colour, and consequently when it presents its most poetical aspect. Mr Raworth’s works are essentially poetical, and New South Wales may be proud of possessing an artist ot such great merit.” The “Homo News ” is not the only home paper which notices Mr Raworth’s pictures. “ Anglo-Australian,” writing to the “ European Mail ” of December 20th, says “ That there is abundance of talent in New South Wales in the art of painting seems amply verified by some interesting pictures recently received in London from the colony, and executed by Mr William Raworth. Mr Raworth’s scenes in Australia and New Zealand have reached a degree of excellence which would Detain for him. a good position in this country. The subjects treated display a proficiency highly gratifying to many eminent judges.” We arc glad that the opinion we have expressed at various times with respect to the excellence of Mr Raworbh’a pictures harmoniseo so well with the judgment ot eminent critics in the mother country. Our own opinion, founded on inspection of Mr Haworth's pictures, is that the works ha sent to London for sale are far from being his best works.