WELLINGTON WORKING MEN’S CLUB.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5388, 4 July 1878, Page 2

WELLINGTON WORKING MEN’S CLUB.

FINE ARTS AND INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION. There have been some very acceptable additions to -the picture l gallery, notably an excellent likeness of Sir Julius Vogel, in oil, by a young lady. In the furniture room there is a small crockery image of -Boss • Tweed, so contrived that when a coin is placed in the right hand it is immediately transferred to the breast pocket. A card gives the following inscription;—“ J)e moHuu nil nisi bonum. Boss Tweed receiving and thankfully acknowledging donations of sixpences and shillings in aid of the funds of the Wellington Benevolent Society.” Mr, Alexander Robertson, Nelson, exhibits some pieces of flax dyed in brilliant colors. Mr. B. Martin, of Manners-street, has-sent handsome embossed brass centrepieces for ceilings, also wall pieces and a sample of unusually rich paperhanging. , A handy chaffcutter, which is light and well designed, is exhibited by Mr.* Chew, who also shows a bread knife working in a frame fixed to a wooden plate. Messrs. Guthrie and Larnach have on view tubs, a bucket, a churn, and a cheese-mould, made at their works in Dunedin. They are strong and Well put together. There is a clever bit of work by Mr. Victor Clark, who has engraved the .Lord's prayer on a threepenny-piece. Messrs. Lyon and Blair show excellent specimens of engraving, including a debenture, share certificate, and bill-heads. An . old and curious engraving representing “ A corroboree or dance of natives of New South Wales, New Holland,” has attracted a good deal of attention. The engraving was executed some 33 years ago by a tioket-of-leave convict, who was then engaged as a shepherd, from a piece of copper taken from an old ship which was wrecked about that period. It is exhibited by Mr. C. Gillespie, of Tinakori-road. There has been a fair demand for pictures of ferns obtained by the “ nature printing process," and worked off in the room at Mr. Burrett’s lithographic press. These are sold, the proceeds going to the funds of the Exhibition. At the head of the stairs on, the second-floor there are several old newspapers, * some published in New Zealand, and these have been pretty well scanned by visitors. An automaton bird, which sings in a natural and melodious manner, hfs proved veryattractive, and is also exhibited by Mr. Gillespie. THE PICTURE GALLERY. Resuming our report of the picture gallery at No. 83, we hare an cjil painting from the brush of Mr. Brandon, the subject being an evening scene on the “Dart River,” at the head of Lake Wakatipu. On the right is shown part of Mount Alfred, while the lower portion of the Caple Range, tipped with Snow, is to be seen on the left. Mr. Buchanan ex-' Mbits a chromo, the frame of which is made from the fern tree. It is unique, and the example thus set will probably ere long be followed by many others. There is no doubt that many of our New Zealand woods could bo capitally worked up for purposes as frames for water-color pictures,' photographs, &c., &o. the honeysuckle, for instance; while the rimu, totara, or black birch, would be found suitable for the frames of oil paintings, engravings, or others requiring heavier moulding. While .on this subject, a word may be said to amateurs, exhibitors, and others. Sufficient care is not taken in framing generally; it is not such an easy matter as may be usually supposed ; the subject, the style, and general treatment of the picture have to be carefully studied before finally deciding upon the kind of frame moat appropriate. It. has often occurred that a work, in itself really good, has been utterly spoiled in appearance by the bad taste in the framing. The lighter the picture, the lighter the frame should be ; while those of greater depth and solidity should bo afforded heavier, but appropriate, mouldings. No. 85 is a pretty little view of part of Windsor Forest ; exhibited by E. Battersbee. Mr. Townsend is next with an oil-painting, “.Temptation;” perhaps the best of that artist’s collection on view. The “Head of Reubens,” a chalk drawing by Mr. B. A Rising, is a cleverly-executed work, as is also a water-color sketch of some flowers. The " Ven. Archdeacon Stock exhibits two very good photographs of “Tintern Abbey.” E. Battersbee contributes a very good oil-painting of King Charles spaniels; and then we have a view of “ Mitre Peak,” in Milford Sound, by Hr. Rawson. This is possibly not- so well balanced a picture as others of Mr. Rawaon’f. Greater firmness and depth of coloring of the foreground would improve the appearance of the picture. Few artists in the colony give that care and attention in the treatment of the foreground which it deserves, and by that neglect the painting probably has a “ flat ” appearance, rather than conveying to the observer the idea of “ recession,” if one might coin a word for the purpose. Mr. Gully, for instance, is an exception, for it \vill bo observed, no doubt, that the' foreground in most of his pictures has received the most skilful treatment, A “Study on Sumner Bead}. is from the studio.of Mr. Gibb. The view is taken somewhere near the celebrated - cave, looking towards the South. It is a pity that Mr. Gibb did hot also send a view from the same place - showing the mass of rock in which the cave is situated; the picture is scarcely in Mr. Gibb’s style, his depiction of foliage and landscape generally being preferable to his marine views. Take, lor instance, the large oil painting of. Castle Hill, on the West Coast, which is also frqiqi his brush—a most pleasing scene. The light thrown upon the jutting castle-like rocks and mountain peaks is akilfqlly, done; ryhile the of the distant hills, and the exquisite manner in which the mist is shown lying o ver the lower portion of the valleys, is remarkably good. The general tone of the picture is pleas-

in# to the eye, and has had, as it deserve/*, many admirers. No. .93, is an etching from the bands of Mr. John Buchanan—a study, apparently, of some of Landseer's pets. Mr, Buchanan displays special aptitude in this line, and it is to be regretted that he has not favored the Exhibition with other specimens of bis ability. An oil color, after Turner,, is exhibited by E. Batterabee, but this is scarcely so good as a somewhat similar view we noticed yesterday. Mr. Jack exhibits an oil painting by Dougherty ; the scene is a village on Loch Tyne. This and another, by tho same artis, “ Loch Ard,”. exhibited by Mr. Todd, of Wanganui, are excellent _ paintings. The latter is perhaps the more pleasing, tho reflection of the hills and bush on the unruffled surfaced the loch is very admirably treated. Mr. Henry Bamud furnishes a very nice oil painting, 11 A Frugal Meal/* while in close proximity are two excellent specimens of heraldic art by Mr. J. McDuff. Four portraits painted in oil on copper plates are exhibited by the Ven. Archdeacon Stock. These are evidently from the hands of an old master. No. 101 is a chromo of Dunstandlo Castle, lent by Mr. Jack. An oil painting by Mr. J. Coombe appears as No. 103, the subject being 11 Richard Cceur de' Lion pardoning Bertrand do Gourdon.” __