MISCELLANEOUS REVIEW

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 85, 1 July 1927, Page 13

MISCELLANEOUS REVIEW

Though certainly smaM the pastels section at the Auckland Society of Arts exhibition is not without interest. on account of Elizabeth Wallwork’s portrait Ne'w ”e°L S w ney . Thompson, the New Zealand painter living in anC L/ because of contribu'on(s k fr T W - A - Elowring, R. 0.1., another New Zealander, now domiciled in Sydney. fnr Sl^L T £ ompBOD was responsible „ Zealand art such an hYJ* a few years ago. Incidentally wh-ft-Yv, ISi6W Zealan< iers a glimpse of what the modern school abroad has rmli ° Pe i ° £ recent years. It was . f! I f-i rather sur P rl sing that his work sold like proverbial hot-cakes, but such actually was the case. Mrs. Wallwork’s portrait has much to commend it. The likeness, for instance, is there. But the whimsical lhompson assuredly is not. To attempt to reproduce his personality m what was presumably a somewhat hurried sitting would, after all, be asking too much of the artist. The quality in the Wallwork portraits of Mrs. Norton Francis and Mrs. Douglas Anderson varies. Of these I prefer the former. The Bac-chante-like “Stephanie at the Ball” has certain flesh tints which at once demand respect. W. A. BOWRING, R. 0.1. By far the more interesting of Mr. Bowring’s contributions is “The Connoisseur,” in which he had admirably conveyed the suggestion of light on the sitter’s silvered hair and through the right ear. It is what one must term “a correct” portrait. Attractive, too, is the hand of this exquisite poseur. Mrs. Bowring, better known to New Zealanders as Olive Nelson, sends “Meditation,” a coloured pencil sketch of the “pretty” variety. It does seem regrettable that the etchings section is so small. Particularly fascinating is this branch of art. There should be many more devotees in Auckland in particular and New Zealand in general. Among the younger etchers the work of Constance Lloyd is of much interest. It displays great promise. Likewise, there is a New Zealand spirit pervading her work, which, indeed, is also the case with that of her father (Trevor Lloyd) really most commendable. DELICATE PENCIL DRAWING A delicate pencilled “Souvinir of Chartres” (417) from Owen Merton, is well worth inspection; also Richard Wallwork’s “The Tidal Creek.” Dorothy Venning’s “Gorse” is delightfully fantastic. The unusual subject is treated In an imaginative manner. Hilda Wiseman’s bookplates (linocuts) and L. D. Bestall’s colour woodcuts should also be seen. The photographic section, though likewise small, is distinctly good. Gerald Jones, F.R.P.S., W. Revell Reynolds and Gwen Fullerton are the prominent exhibitors. Notable among the architectural exhibits is Grierson, Aimer and Draffin’s “Hotel Auckland.” There are also on view some beautiful interiors of the new King’s College Chapel. —ERIC RAMSDEN.