ART EXHIBITION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10058, 4 August 1910, Page 5

ART EXHIBITION.

MASTERTON TECHNICAL SCLOOL.

A GREAT GATHERING.

The Technical School buildings were the scene of unusual activity yesterday, when an art exhibition 1 was held therein, and proved an unqua.ifi d auccess. The walls of the rooms up-tairs and downstairs were covered from floor to ceiling with paintings in oils, water colours, and crayons, which, with the splendid light available, showed them up to the best advantage. The committee who had the work of preparation had to work early and late to complete everything in time for the opening, and they are to be congratulated on the result of their efforts. The rooms were fairly full when Mr E. Feist punctually at 3 o'clock, on hebalf of the committee, called upon His Worship the Mayor, Mr J. Cora dine, to open the proceedings. Mr Coradinesaid it gave him great pleasure to take part in the func tion, and hn thanked the management of the Technical School for granting, him the privilege For many years he had himself been connected with the school management and he hoped his severance from it was but of temporary character. The school had had a varied career, and to the patriotism of the public of Masterton was due the fact that such a convenient building as the one in which they were now holding this fine Art Exhibition. It had taken them some nine or ten years to bring it about, but they had by perseverance and combination at last succeeded. They had previously been at considerable disadvantage for want of suitable premises, and could not. carry on the work of instruction properly. The public had placed a trust on the Board of Management to carry out this work of instruction, and it was with a view to showing the public some of the advantages to be gained by such an institution that this Art Ex- ' hibition had been instituted. They wanted the public to realise the advantages that were at hand for in stracting the young, aye, and the older ones, in technical work. Tfcey were in a position to open up art classes, and these advantages were placed before tnem. Unfortunately for himself, and, perhaps, fortunately for them, he could not go into the merits of the various art subjects displayed to their view. He could, however, urge upon the ad ( vantages of the institution, and that ■ they and (heir children should take , hold of its benefits. The more their ideas of art were cultivated, the better they were able to give ex- j pression to their knowledge; the i greater would be their power of extending benefits to those around them. In conclusion, he apologised for the absence of Mr Hogg, MP., ' and Mr R. Lee, and expressed < pleasure that among those present, . as a patron of the school, was Mr H. S. Wardell, who would probahly have a few words to say to them in the evening. The speaker then formally declared the Exhibition open, i amidst applause. , Large and convenient as the rooms were they proved all too small for the number of visitors who came from ' all parts of the Wairarapa. Most i people wanted to see the wonderful | painting by Kubens of the "Immaculate Conception "This the property of Father Molloy, who was present ' and informed our representative that the picture had a remarkable history. It'was painted.in the year 1605, and presented to the King of the Nether- - lands, who was then Emperor of Ger- } many and King of Spain. The King took it to Madrid, where it remained in one of the palaces for a considerable time. It was then removed to < the palace of Schonbrunn, near i Vienna, the residence of the Emperor . of Austria. There it remained until the outbreak of the Napoleonic wars, when, after, the battle of Aus- ] terlitz. Napoleon invaded Austria and fixed his headquarters at Schon- - brunn. The Rubens, among a great ( many other pictures, was seized and taken to Paris' and installed in the Louvre. This was in 1805. The Treaty of Amiens, however, compelled its < restoration, and it was returned to , Schonbrunn in the year 1814. Later, , again, it was given by the Archduke ■ Charles of Austria, to a noble family ' of the name of Mollenbruch in reward for military services. A descendant of } this family, Coubt Walter Musil von , Mollenbruch, married Father Molloy's sister, and it v?r- he who sent ' the celebrated Rubens, with several ] others, out h:_ ' F-'hsr Molloy. There is another historical paint- ( ing "The Madonna and build," by Paul Veronese, and a water colour "Franciscen Monks Out Walking," : which has a wonderful z' y effect. There are many very splendid paintings on view, but it is not possible to particularise them. The work of the pupils was a great attraction. There were good examples of building construction and drawing by the classes under Mr F. E. Lamb. Mr E. P. Fenton, the art master, had a special display of the work done by his pupils. The management provided > afternoon tea for the visitors, which was much appreciated. ,

THE EVENING. There was another crowded attendance in the evening, and a most delightful, and at the same time highly instructive, time was spent by the visitors. During the evening Mr E. Feist, Chairman of the Technical School Managers, expressed the pleasure it gave him to see such a large attendance, and he trusted that, as a result, the art classes would be greatly strengthened by the addition of new students, At a later stage a number of musical items and recitations, arranged by Mr G. Branson, were rendered, and were greatly appreciated by those present. Before the Exhibition closed for the evening Mr W H. Jackson, on behalf ot the Technical School Managers, explained to those present the objects of the promoters of the Exhibition. They had in Masterton a tine Technical School, splendidly equipped, which had only been secured after years of struggle. Excellent results had been obtained from the various classes, but it was the desire of the managers to develop aud still further enlarge the ait classes. The numerous art treasures which adorned the building had been very kindly lent by residents, and would greatly assist in the fostering 1 cf art studies in this district. One

could spend many pleasant hours lor i studying out the history at*'sehctl *<*. the various pictures. There was nothing more noble than - the cultivation of art studies. In conclusion, the speaker urged upon tnose parents present to use their best ei> deavours to induce their children to take up some branch of the art classes.

The musical programme rendered during the evening was as follows: —Solos: Mrs H. M. Buddirgton„ "World's Awakening," "Little White M<ion"; Mr W. 'ggulder, "Love's Request,' "Out on the Deep"; Mr G. Branson, «*The Little Irish Girl " Recitations: Miss Dorothy Vile, "The Smack in School"; Mr G. Bran m, Humorous recitation. Clarionet solo, fif 1 * M. R Varnham, "Roy Bias." The pianoforte accompaniments were played by Misses Hampton and Jggulden. Before the gathering dispersed Mr E. H. Waddington thanked Mr Branson for his efforts in arrangirg the musical items, and also all those who took part in the programme. THIS AFTERNOON. The Exhibition will be continued this afternoon, when the doors will be open to the public at at Jt 1 o'clock.