Departing Artist Shows His Paintings

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 359, 21 May 1928, Page 13

Departing Artist Shows His Paintings

Oils and Water-Colours of Mr. Robert Proctor GOES SOON TO MELBOURNE To the more subdued landscape of New Zealand Mr. Robert Proctor, the Auckland artist, who is shortly leaving for Melbourne, invests with the colours of his beloved Italy, the land in which he did so much of his work. Mr. Proctor’s show’, which was opened at the Art Society’s old building in Kitchener Street to-day, can hardly be termed a “one-man show,” as Mrs. Proctor is represented, both in oils and by a water-colour study. Trie dominating note in all Mr. Proctors work is a warm and appreciative expression of colour, a sense to which the New Zealand trained painter does not always give due emphasis. Mr. Proctor cannot bo placed in that group. "Fishing Boats, Chioggia, near Venice.” painted during one of the artist’s sojourns in Italy, is among the more serious offerings. Particularly effective is the golden glow of sunshine on the furled sails, a work in which Mr. Proctor shows a fine appreciation of values. Yet the light is treated from an angle apparent in Sydney Thomson's later Concarneau quayside studies. It is bold, colourful, vigorous, yet restrained.

Mr. Proctor takes the visitor through the market places of Rome, among the Neopolitan peasantry, and even to the winter snows of Holland, where he studied prior to going to Paris. Colourful impression of Rotorua hang side by side with glimpses of blue pea skirted woods in the Waikato, and mountain streams, icily cold, venturing on the long journey seawards from the snowy fastnesses of Ruapehu.

The exhibition will be open throughout the week.