Art Notes.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 20, 12 August 1893, Page 5

Art Notes.

(By Crayon.) The models for the use of the Southland Art Society which were ordered from London a while back, have arrived, and are now on view at the rooms above Wesney Bros.’ establishment. The models consist of cases of fruit, foliated frieze, anatomical portions of human figure, torso of Venus, half-a-dozen busts, and statuettes of Venus de Milo. All those who are interested in art are cordially invited to inspect the rooms any Tuesday evening between 7.30 and 9.30. In a conversation with the instructor (Mr Hendry) I learn that the classes are makidg very satisfactory progress, while the attendance has increased to such an extent that it has been found necessary to engage another room. This room will be fitted up fsr the use of the more advanced students in the study of the antique. Lessons have also been given in perspective and scale-draw-ing. From an inspection of the students’ work, it is evident that a few, at least, possess artistic abilities above the average ; and if they are only true to themselves, and the talent that has been given them, I am confident that at no distant date they will do credit both to themselves and the town of Invercargill. God’s works—paint any one, and count it crime To let a truth slip—Don’t object, “ His works Are here already—nature is complete; Suppose jone <luc her—(which youcan’t) There’s no advantage! you must beat her, then.” For, don’t you mark, we’re made so that we love First when we see them painted, things we have passed Perhaps a hundred times nor eared to see ; And so they are better painted—better to us, Which is the same thing, Art was given for that— God uses us to help each other so, Lending our minds out. Bkowxing. “ Artists are supposed to pass their lives in eax-nest endeavour to express through the medium of paint or pencil, thoughts, feelings, or impressions, which they cannot help expressing, and which cannot possibly be expressed by any other means. They make use of material means in order to arrive at this end. They tell their story- —the story of a day, an impression of a character, a recollection of a moment, or whatever, more or less clearly or well, as they are more or less capable of doing. They expose their work to the public, not for the sake of praise, but with a feeling and a hope that some human being may see in it the feeling that has passed through their own mind, in their poor and necessarily crippled statement. The endeavour is honest and earnest, if almost always with a result weakened by over consciousness or endeavour to be understood. “ Then the material in which they work is of a nature so impossible ! Imagine ! Yon have never tried it ? This undertaking to render sunlight, life, air, flowers, with the same tariy unguent substance which you employ to keep wood from water-soak, or which you avoid for fear of having your clothes soiled. For the sign ‘ Look out for Paint!’ is hung up with the same universal conscience, and has almost as much power, as the sign ‘ Small-pox here !’ “ Imagine modelling and rendering youth and beauty in the same substance which you avoid as soiling your boots ; or chiselling and reproducing the smile of an infant from the same ungrateful substance wich you use as an ever-enduring slab on which to record the fact to future generations, that under this stone lies a human being lies buried! Is it not rather a wonder that the painter or sculptor has ever succeeded in doing anything P “ Your work is exhibited not with the intention of injuring any of the human race. It is a dumb, noiseless, silent story, told, as best it may be, by the author to those whom it may concern, and does tell its story. Hot to everybody but to somebody? — Hunt.