WAR PICTURES.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 June 1918, Page 7

WAR PICTURES.

TO BE PAINTED BY NEW ZEAIiAND ARTISTS. The Hon. G. W. Russell (Minister for Internal Affairs) made some interesting references at Wellington on Monday to the subject of war (paintings for the New Zealand National Collection. "Some time ago," he stated to a Times representative, "an offer was received from Mr. H. C. S. Wright, an English artist, to do battie,pictures for the New Zealand Government. The offer was considered, and it was decided that there was no need to go beyond our own shores for work of this class, as there are several New Zealand artists at the front and.others have returned to the Dominion. The director of thej Dominion .Museum has now reported to me that the Canadian Government has appointed thirty artists 'belanging to that country, to whom they were giving commissions to ipaint war pictures. ARTIST AMD SNIPER, TOD. "Dr Thompson reports that Mr. Nugent Welsh, a New Zealand artist, left with the 14th Reinforcement, It was discovered that he was a crack shot, and he was given a position as sniper, (but in his apa/e time he made a lot of sketches and decorated the walls of his dug-out with them. One of the generals saw these sketches, and, noting his excellent wonk, took him away to other duties at the ibase, giving him special work to utilise for military purposes his peculiar talent as a sketcher. My opinion (said the Minister, in conclusion) is that when the time arrives all the necessary painting can be done for New Zealand iby NeW Zealanders; and I hope that those of our men who are competent will Ibe employed by the Government in preparing suitable pictures for the National Collection."