FINE ART EXHIBITION.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2193, 7 March 1881, Page 3

FINE ART EXHIBITION.

A free exhibition of high-class framed pictures, after the most eminent ancient and modern painters, is now open daily in the Market Place for a limited period. The collection is a varied one, including many well known reproductions, and also several oil paintings of New Zealand scenery, three of which, from tho brush of Mr R.'Power, of Dunedin, and shown by that gentleman at the late Sydney Exhibition, are very good specimens of colonial talent. These comprise a sketch taken in Wairau Gorge, Marlborough, and two “ studies” in different parts, of “The Water of Leith,” Otago. Those works of art show careful attention to perspective, and the delineation of the various objects shown, such as ferns, tree ferns, and falling water, os also the gradations of light and shade, are very faithfully depicted. There are also shown some very good ohromos of New Zealand scenery after Gully, -viz.,—White Peak, Milford Sound, Mount Egrnont, Mount Cook, and New Zealand forest (bush) vegetation. Some original oil -paintings are worthy of more than passing xiotico, tho first of which, " The Frozen, near Cortaohy, Forfarshire,” by J. Soutar, is a picture that will arrest almost universal attention. At the spot chosen the Frozen falls over a succession of terraces, somewhat similar to those familiarised by photos of tho celebrated Rotomahana Hot Springs. Two others, by J. McDonald, of Edinburgh, "Glen Olova ” and “Glen Lyon,” near Aberfoldy, Perthshire, are very £ood, and will call up remembrances

of “ Auld Lang Syne ” to many a gazer. There is also a very fine reproduction by Mr F. Perks, after Landseer, “ The Cavalier a Pots,’* being two King Charles spaniels; these are very life like, and it would appear as if the artist had caught the mantle of the departed artist, so far as realistic rendering or animal life is concerned. “ Not Caught Yet, after the same groat artist, and “ Departure for Fresh Pastures,” both by Mr J. Wardley, are very well depicted, showing evidence or considerable talent. A very fine oleo, massively framed, after Murillo, “ The Mother of Christ, the Infant Jesus, and St. John, is a truly grand picture. Tho collection, numbering some 180 subjects, is nicely hung, an every attention is paid by shading to secure an effective light. It is tho intention of Mr Hay, tho proprietor, to dispose of thorn by art union early in April, and, whether considered as an art union or an exhibition, the pictures aro well worth inspection, many of them being really fine specimens of art; and as there is no charge for admission, doubtless the exhibition will be well patronised.