THE FINE ARTS IN OTAGO.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6497, 23 December 1881, Page 5

THE FINE ARTS IN OTAGO.

[fboh oub owk ooßunPOKSxirr.J Dunedin, Deo. 19. The Otago Arte Society’s exhibition is not made up solely of the works of Colonial artists, a large number of the exhibits being by artists of eminence in England and Scot* land, lent for exhibition by their owners, and in adopting this course the Society are acting in a liberal manner that is sure to do good, for in addition to the enhanced value it gives the exhibition as a “draw,” it enables the public to see and admire works of eminent artists they could not do in any other way; and besides allowing of a comparison being instituted between the local and other works, it permits the artist himself to tee his work side by side with that of an admitted master, and he ought to be able to profit by the opportunity. The first on the catalogue, “ Gum Leaves,” by Mrs White, is a perfect study, and, though small, one could gase and admire indefinitely the delicate shading of this little gem. A local scene, “ flagstaff, from Shiel Hill," by Miss Holmes, is a rather good effort, ana the same lady baa an Art Club sketch, *• Autumn’s Qrey Bhadowy Day," in blade and white," which displays a very large amount of originality. Her water colour, “Dunedin from Anderson’s Bay,” is not at all equal to the black end white sketch. No. 6 on the catalogue is “A Storm in Bradshaw Sound," by Mr J. Gully, and the same artist has “ Mount Bgmont' and a lent picture, “The Inland Kaikouras," in the collection. Whether it is that familiarity with this artist, through his published ohrorao-lithogriph* has taken away the charm from his works I cannot say, but though there is much to admire in them, his handling of colours does not appear to be happy, and as a rule they are laid oa too profusely. Taken altogether his works do not entirely satisfy. His “ Mount Kamont" does not at all impress on the beholder that magnificence and awe which is said to be inspired by contemplating the mountain itself, and whether he has chosen a bad point of view, or whether the subject is in* adequately treated I am assured by one just returned from that now historical ground, that the picture on view here does not appear to be a correct representation of the beauties of that lone mountain. The Misses Wimpcri* have a large number of pictures on view, many of them having merit, and if tluy follow up their fancy tor art*, which appears to be a family possession, they are more than likely to produce works that will have a lost* ing fame. Mr E. A. Gifford, Oamani, ap* pears five time# in the catalogue. His “(Sunset Glow on the Eastern Horizon, Oamaru Coast," is not a success, and he appears to have failed in transferring to canvas those subtle tints in the evening sky which arrest and impress with a feeling of reverence the roost unobservant. " Cosmos Peak," “Nulling," and "Dolce far niente" are much better, though not at all such a triton among minnows as would naturally bo expected from a) gold medallist among the amateurs at the Exhibition. "Returning from the Ball" (lent by Mr J. H.* Holmes), by Mr Gifford, appears to bo a poor subject, badly treated, and painted still worse. An English lane through a forest is shown, everything white with snow, with an almost microscopic family carriage toiling through the snow, whoso invisible occupants are returning from a ball, are Mr Gifford’s ideas on the subject. The representation of snow on the trees is very poor, and can only bo likened to the patchy article which doe* duty in engravings of cotton fields, and one can only wonder that Mr Gifford ever allowed such a picture to leave Ins studm. Mr 0. D. Barraud has “Gondebot-sur-Bsuro, Normandy,” "On tho Eimutaka Incline, Wellington, and " Fif and Punch, with a letter to the Otago Art Society." The latter is a representation of a couple of dogs— a sky terrier, bearing a letter i

in hi# mouth, and a pug. The dog* aw excellently painted, and show that Mr Bsrraud haa great power in representing animal life, but he haa been unfortunate in selecting for hit background a brown cushion with a gaudjr blue curtain alongside it, whick detrac t greatly from what ia one of the beat picture* in the exhibition Mr Irvine, i.U 8, A., ha* a portrait in crayon finished very artistically, showing t»o young lad* armed with fishing rod and basket, and another portrait in hi* well known excellent style, Mr* Morrico’s “Birch Forest,” ia an excellent work, the foliage being depicted in a highly realiatio manner; and were it not for the peculiar arrangement of the light which up* pear* to fall with an mtenae blueuhr.ei* in the background, would be a credit to any artist, The abode in the foreground if acareely deep enough, but in every other reaped the study is one which could be gazed upon and admired for hours. Her picture of the “Lower Harbour” is more hackneyed, and not eo effective. To my idea *• Milford Sound--Evening,” by Mr J Gibb, of Christ* church,! believe, is the best in the exhibition. Hisiraanagcmer.t of the peculiar lights are a perlrct study, and though the effects produced are far from common, nothing appear* strained to produce the result. The way ia which ho has caugot Ihe tints when the sua has just disappeared behind the hill* is a rare stroke of genius, and his whole iky in thia picture is a masterpiece of painting on a punt which Colcnialartists, as a rule, appear to fail lamentably. To see thia one view alqno is worth the money charged, and hi* sky should be particularly studied by otnor aspirants to artistic fame. His other picture, “On the Baaley, West Coast Road, ’ is a very creditable production, but he is not at all eo happy In the effects aa in the previous one. The “Decanter Bock*, Bank*’ Peninsula,” by the fame artist is on almost entirely different aubject, and though it ia one worthy of being well studied in many respecte, Mr Gibb waa not quite ao good a* in the two already mentioned. Next to Mr Gibb’* picture* I would place “ Porakanui,” by Mi** M. Chapman. All who bare travelled on the railway line will have seen the place chosen as a subject by this young lady, whick is situated a little north of Dunedin, Bhe has selected a calm day, with sufficient tide to barely cover the spit of yellow sand which runs out into the bay. The time being morning and the water clear, the shadow of the hills on the right are shown in the bay, and as the shadow extends across (he sand bank, the effect produced is both pleasi-g and peculiar. On the left is seen Goat 1 dsnd, and a bare glimpse of the blue Pacific Ocean ia given. Thia is one of those works which will bo more highly appreciated for ite fidelity to Nature by the few familiar with the scene than by the art connoisseur. But why go further with the list, which would occupy too much of your space, even if only half a dozen words were said of each painting. There are in the exhibition a very large number of painting* and sketches which are in every respect worthy of commendation, and would do credit to many exhibitions much more pretrntiou* than that of the Otago Art Society. All exhibited are of a very high order, and I am not aware that any were rejected by the Committee. Where I bare felt called upon to criticise, it has been because it would be serving no purpose to lavish praise where it was undeserved, and because the defects I have pointed out were in instances where an otherwise excellent work waa marred by them. To describe many af the works would require an amount of art technicalities 1 do not feel called upon to furbish up, and in one instance, an Art Club sketch by the President, Mr W. M. Hodgkins, to which he append* the lines,

And twilight grey Had in her sober lirery all things clad* one could dilate for an hour and not ist too much in praise. But enough has been given to provide your readers who take an inteiest in art with a fair idea of what Colonial artiste have provided ; which, along with lent pictures from such well known artist a as Patou, Vallance, M’Donald and Bough, all SSS9$£! > ..g r - Sheep—Scene mar Whitby,’’ &c., make up a collection which takes up a long time be fore one feels bo has admired their beauties. Besides these, there are several pfcotcgrsphi* studies, including some taken by Mr Burton, of Lake Manipori during his visit there with the prospecting and eiploring expedition which has lust returned from Fiord County. Some excellent flower painting on tile, exited “ Plaque" in the catalogue, are also exhibited by several well-known ladies, and this dabbling in art is now becoming very fashionable in the Old Country. Those exhibited here are far beyond simply dabbling, and the faithful and patient manner in which lilies, clematis, chrysanthemums, and carcitaui are laid on, would appear to indicate that their exhibitors are capable of more ambitious works. I think, then, I have now given your readers an idea of what the associating together of a few ladies and gentlemen who are lovers of art hare done towards promoting its culture in Otago, s”d bet ore leaving the Art Society’s Exhibition i; will be well to mention that it is fulfilling one of its functions of enabling artists to dispose of their work, as the number of paintings having the red ticket, which signifies they have been sold, testify.