WELLINGTON WORKING MEN’S CLUB.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5391, 8 July 1878, Page 3

WELLINGTON WORKING MEN’S CLUB.

FINE ABTSj AND INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION. The rooms were very largely attended on' Saturday afternoon, a great many people from the country being among the visitors; and in the evening there was. a constant flow of sightseers. Several additions to tho exhibits have been made. In a day or two the falls of Niagara will be removed, andsnme exceedingly good dissolving views of New Zealand scenery will be shown. This evening there will be musical selections, and this part of tho entertainment will be varied each evening during

the week. An invitation has bepn issued to the crew of H. M.S. Nymphe to visit the Exhibition on Wednesday. THE PICTURE GALLERY.

■ Continuing our observations on the picture gallery, wo recognise tho portrait of the ‘‘ S.S. ■ Airedale.” This and another—the ‘‘Ship Red Jacket” (No. 121)—are well-known o 1 paintings, executed by Captain Robinson. They are notably good as likenesness of ths vessels they represent, and equally so as works of art, the latter painting especially so. The sea is beautifully painted, the transparency and depth of color being well preserved., No. 121 is without doubt tho finest marine painting in the room. Both are exhibited by Mrs. Martin, and are well worthy tho inspection and study of lovers of marine painting. "Nos. 110 and 112 are well-executed pieces of woolwork. Mr. C. O Neill, C.E., exhibits a photograph of the interior'of St. Mary’s Cathedral, Thorndon. “ Kinmont Willie” is an oil painting by Mr. Henry Bar- ■ rand, and exhibited by Mr. Mclntosh. Tho subject is chosen from Scottish border minstrelsy, and on the face of it tells a very pathetic story. The picture is worthy of better care. Two cases containing photographs are shown by Messrs. Wrigglesworth and Binns They aro excellent specimens of the'art. Miss Allen exhibits a very good piece of woolwork ; the subject is pleasing, and has been nicely worked. Mr. Rising adds another oil painting to the list ; the subject, however, is Nos. lid and 119 are pieces of woolwork from the hands of Mrs. Bolton. These are the best of any in the room; the colors are well chosen, and not too glaring, and great care has been taken over the .work. In future exhibitions of this kind it would perhaps bo well if a portion of a room were set apart specially for this class of exhibits. Water colors and wool work do not harmonize. What is absolutely necessary in the one is rarely employed iu the other; high, showy colors are principally used in the former, while the clear delicate tints of some water-colors would be seriously impaired if placed in close proximity to oven the best of woolwork. “ The Flying Squadron,” another work in wool,' is exhibited by Mr. Downes. Nos 122, by Hanbidge, and 123, by Dougherty, are two very good oil paintings, exhibited by Hr. Todd, of Wanganui. The mist hanging over the mountains, and the beautiful calm looh showing the reflection of the distant hills, is perhaps the more pleasing ■ of the two,' but the other will no doubt meet with many admirers. A pretty little bush scene, copied from an illustration in the Australasian Sketcher, is by Miss Cook, probably an earlier effort by this young lady, the harmony of the colors appearing scarcely so well attended to as in others of later date. A sketch on the Mavora Lake, . Otago, by Mr, W. F. Parsons, is a pretty scene. This is generally admitted by all who have visited the locality to eclipse in beauty any other lake in tho colony. The point of view has been well chosen by the artist, but a little sameness in the coloring and general treatment of the foliage is observable. A sketch from the top of Paikakariki Hill is from the pencil of Master Crorabie. The view represents the traveller at the top of the hill looking towards the West Coast and the long Forty-Mile Beach in the distance. One could almost point out the exact position of the unfortunate Hydrabad iu her sandy dock. “Hawera Lake," by F. Barraud (No. 128), is a very pretty little view. Messrs. Wrigglesworth and Biuns exhibit an excellent photograph of the interior of St. Mary’s Cathedral at Thorndon. This photograph, it will be noted, is copyright. Mr. Bothamley sends an engraving, “ The Age of Innocence ” (after Sir Joshua Reynolds). No. 130, an old •dilapidated castle' on the borders of Looh Ard, by McCabe, and 131, by Dun. McKellar, are both frdm the collection of Mr. Todd. They are excellent works of art, and each in its way well worthy of study. The expression on the face of the girl,is admirably depicted," and the attitude extremely natural and pleasing. No. 132 is a, small oil painting representing an English coast scene, by Mr. E. Brandon. 133, “Ingleby onTrent, Derbyshire.” by J. Tamer, and “Loch Long,”' by Donald, are exhibited by Mr. Todd. It will no doubt be observed by amateurs and others how fond many English artists are of choosing the early twilight as the time of representation of their . scenery. The cold grey evening effects are specially noticeable in the works of Dougherty, McCabe, and others. “On Clapham Common” is a picture representing two children resting by the way. The elder of the two (evidently sisters) nursing the little one, who, tired and weary, has fallen asleep. The picture is extremely natural. The name of the artist does not appear. It is exhibited by Mr. Todd, who also contributes an oil painting by T. MoEwan, entitled “A Book of Ballads”— probably a portrait, and from the same hand as No. 131. The expression on the face of the old lady, while hesitating a moment •in her work, and apparently interested in the ballad which the girl is reading, is well shown; while the fading light coming through the old fashioned casement window is beautifully softened. This picture will no doubt find many admirers, “El Waish” is the subject of a nicely-executed water-color by Mr. W. F. Parsons. Mr. E. Brandon contributes two water-color paintings, a moonlight scene and "a sunset; the latter; representing some of the beautiful scenery of Preservation Inlet. Nos. 141,> 142, and 143, are Masonic tracing boards, executed and exhibited by Mr. Duff. Two old woodcuts, maps, executed in 1595, are exhibited by Mr. Harry Wrigg, and are rare specimens of the work of that period. Numbers 146 to 150 are oil paintings, exhibited by Mr. Townsend. An engraving. “Wellington in 1841,” is exhibited by Mr. Parnell, and is very interesting. It is the work of Major Heaply, V. 0., who at that . time, we believe, held the position of Surveyor .to the New Zealand Company. No. 153, a chalk drawing of “Peter Paul Reubens,” is well * executed by Mr. Bossard, of-Westport, who is also the exhibitor. An oil painting, “ Highland Girl,” is a very pretty picture. This is also an exhibit by Mr. Todd. The remainder of the exhibits do not call for much remark. Since the opening of the Exhibition several additions have been made, notably two oil paintings, by a young lady residing in Dunedin. One is a portrait of the famous poet Burns, and the other a capital portrait of Sir J. Vo"el, which the fair artist has in. the moat generous manner presented ing Men's Club. A'phetograph of nated address presented by the “to Sir Julius Vogel, is also Mr. E, Brandon. “A Bit for Hoh” . the title of. an oil painting, executed by Mr. Townsend, representing a little girl sharing her frugal meal jvith her faithful companion. A'pair of paper pictures, ..sent by Mr. 0. Martin, are well worthy of inspection. Mr. Myers, of Lambtou-quay, exhibits a collection of framed chromo-litho-graphs from Mr. Barraud’s bookof New Zealand scenery, There is also a little gem in water colors, lent by Mr. Stevenson, _ of the firm of Stevenson and Stuart, It is called 1 Glen Deary,” is tho work of Mr. Pemgal R.S., and represents the ruins of an old castle. Mr. Rawson has recently addeil another very pleasing water color view to his already valuable collection. It is a view of Pickersgill Cove in Dusky Sound, and conveys a very faithful Idea of the beauties of that locality. ' This brings us to the close of our notices of the picture gallery. We have endeavored to afford our readers as much information regarding the exhibits as possible, and at tho same time to do justice to whatever might be noticed. It may be that some may feel that their work has not received that mention or prominence to which they themselves would ' think it entitled, or might feci aggrieved at any few remarks that have been made upon their prod i efc ms. These remarks have been offered In no ptrping spirit, but with an honest desire to encourage tho pursuit of fine arts generally; and to foster that fair spirit, emulation, and kindly feeling which are so essential to success. In this, tho first exhibition of the kind, it would be perhaps ungenerous to closely criticise all that are exhibited, we refer especially to loejl works. There are some that are ex-

ceedingly good, while place is given to others * that could not reasonably be expected to have space afforded to them. Strictly, none hat original works should be admitted, copies in ■ every instance being excluded, as is the case in the exhibitions field each year in Dunedin ; but it would be unwise, at present at all events, _ to enforce that ride. The object of such exbitions is not only to promote a love of art generally,-but to encourage those who'have tho time and talenf to pursue it. Prom amateurs

and artists especially thanks are due to the management of the Working Men’s Club for having, under great difficulties, initiated such an opportunity for the display of their works. We believe wo only echo the opinion of every well-wisher in tho place in hoping that this is but tile commencement of series of exhibitions of tho kind. Were this idea carried oul th(f number of exhibits iu arts and manufactures which would bo forthcoming each year would demand a much larger space than could at present bo provided, but the benefit to be derived by such exhibitions would be incalculable to all classes of the community. We trust that tho matter will be taken up, the sooner tho bettor, and that arrangements may soon be completed for an anuual Exhibition of Fine Arts in this city. Tho writer of this would bo neglectful of his duty were he not to award a meed of praiso to Mr. Cary, the manager. Tho difficulties he has had to encounter, and they were not few, have been met with a sterling determination to surmount all obstacles, and so far as possible to render the whole tiling a success, and the writer would fain be allowed here to place on record his thanks for the courtesy in every way so generously accorded him.