WORKS OF ART.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8256, 9 October 1906, Page 6

WORKS OF ART.

THE AUCKLAND PROSECUTION.

By Telegraph—Press Association.

AUCKLAND, October 8.

Giving his decision in the oases against two persons charged with selling copies of. Lord Leighton's picture "Psyche's Bath," and of the picture "Psyche at Nature's Mirror," by Paul Shaumanu, the Fixtures being alleged to he indecent, Mr Kettle, S.M., said the question was whether the sale of these pic lures fcu a constable a breach of the Offensive Publications Act. It would bo a gross libel of famous works to characterise "Psyche's Bath" as indecent, '.lhere was an entire absence of impure suggestion and nothing offensive to decency or good morals. The picture was not intended to have, using the words of the statute, an "indecent, immoral, or obsopne effect " It was unt seriously contended that "Psyche at Nature's Mirror" was indecent or obscene Both informations would be dismissed. The Magistrate added that be wished it to bo clearly understood that he did not hold that photograph of these postcards ought to be indiscriminately exhibited and sold to boys and girls. A great deal must depend on the manner and extent in which the sale, publication, or exhibition was ma'le. The pictures were works of true and pure art—vastly different from the postcards, which lie condemned a few days ago. If it was true that the indiscriminate exhibition in shop windows of works of pure art was found to bo prejudicially affecting the public morala to any appreciable extent, it might bo the duty of Parliament to legislate'on the Bubjeot.