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THE EASEL CLUB'S EXHIBI
TION.
Seoond Notice.
A good many—indeed, the majority—
of the pictures suffered from the miser
able light in which they were hung.
With windows in one wall only, the
Pirie Street room is altogether un
suited for an art exhibition, except
perhaps in the brightest of summer
days. During the present exhibition
the weather has been mostly overcast
and gloomy, so that it was impossible to
fairly appreciate those pictures which
were placed in the dark end of the
room. Therefore Quiz will be reserved
in his opinions with regard to them,
and he will deal with the artists in
the catalogue order.
Miss Hannam had two fruit pieces
and an oil sketch of roses, all of
which showed talent, particularly the
roses.
C. B. Whillas-^—A rather misnamed
" Lay of the Last Minstrel," which
looked like a copy of some old paint
ing of musical instruments even to
the dark browns employed; also
"Bachelor's Comforts," an attempt in
the same vein.
Miss L. W. Barker—A glimpse of
"The Blue Lake, Mount Gambier,"
and "Middleton Beach." Both pro
mising efforts.
Miss E. F. Palmer — A "Fruit
Study," three sketches, and a more
ambitious painting of Port Lincoln
beach, the last being a good bit of
work.
Miss A. Egan—Two sketches and
several studies. The "Tecoma Jas
minoides " and an arrangement of
" Grasses" (in oil) showed excellent
judgment in color and form, without
any carelessness to mar the natural
ness.
Mrs. Wholohan's study of " Almond
Blossoms" was a very delicate piece
of watercolor work that met with
general admiration. Her other
pictures were not so successful.
Mr. C. H. Gooden succeeded fairly
well in a somewhat ambitious oil of
"The Valley of the Onkaparinga,"
and has kept reasonably away from
the traditions of H. J. Johnstone and
Co. Two other sketches show merit.
B. B. Wadham is an English artist,
and is father of Mr. W. J, Wadham.
Six Welsh scenes from his easel were
exhibited, and in every picture there
is the touch of a man with an estab
lished reputation.
C. C. Presgrave had no less than
ten pieces on the walls, but they were
every one worthy of exhibition. This
student has made great progress of
late, and some of his sketches display
a nice taste for color. The influence
of Mr. A. Sinclair is perhaps pre
dominant at present, but this if any
thing is a good fault, and in the
future Mr. Presgrave will, Quiz pro
phesies, benefit from the experience.
His " Cataract Gorge," Tasmania, is
apparently a copy." Nevertheless it is
a clever bit of watercolor work. Of
the others Quiz likes the sketches at
Seven Hills, and although there is
merit in an oil study of gums in the
Botanic Park, he prefers the water
colors*
A, MacCormac, besides his fine
picture, "A Bush Artist," showed
several other portraits, including on«
of Mrs. MacCormac and another of
the mother of Mr. Justice Bundey, all
in the artist's best manner.
J. Ash ton's principal exhibits have
been noticed, but one or two other
charming pictures came from the
studio of the Norwood artist. With
out launching into critical detail,
44 Freshening Up," a spirited sketch of
a great green breaker just toppling
over, may be picked out, also^ 44 A
Calm Evening," in which a delightful
atmospheric transparency was attained.
A Sinclair, in addition to his
beautiful 44 Rainy Weather, Seven
Hills," exhibited a couple of pretty
sketches from Balhannah.
Gr. A. Reynolds was the most
multitudinous exhibitor in the room,
heading the list with 25 sketches and
studies in a variety of subjects. Quiz
ventures to suggest that the artist
should concentrate. He showed a
study of chrysanthemums, which was
perhaps the best flower piece on the
walls, but be also showed one or two
landscape sketches which would have
been better kept in his studio.
" Memories of the Past," an old man's
head, and 44 A Peaceful Hour," an old
woman's face, were both excellently
done, and several etchings betrayed a
fcalenfc for that kind of work. Mr.
Reynolds can, however, paint flowers
and faces.
Miss E. Crane is one of the most
promising of locally educated artists.
She has firmness with delicacy, and a
sure eye for effect. Miss Crane is
already showing the possession of a
style which may develop into indivi
duality. " Low Tide, Port Vincent,"
" On the Beach, Clenelg," and various
sketches in Botanic Park were all
cleverly done.
R. Buring—Nine small sketches.
One, a pretty glimpse of a house and
lane entitled "Nanny in Our Alley,"
after the manner of Strutt, jun., and
"A Dull Day, Port River," which
Quiz liked best, though he heard some
of the others preferred.
Miss McCracker—A fruit study,
well done; but fruit studies, unless
something fresh, should be excluded
from public exhibitions—they only
look like successful lessons executed
under the tuition of the teacher, or
copies.
W. J. Wadhatn's chief contributions
have been dealt with. Of his other
pictures, " Rest by the Wayside " and
" Torrens% Walk " were the most con
spicuous, though a little bit of Sydney
t
Harbor, " Nepean Bay," was much
admired.
Miss Bloxam may be bracketed
with Miss Crane. She, however,
suffered from the Cimmerian darkness
in which her sketches were hung.
" Lovers' Walk," " Mount Gambier,"
and " Maedonnell Bay" each sup
ported the lady's growing reputation.
F. H. Bartels confined himself to
pen and ink vignettes, and remarkably
clever most of them were. It is not
always just to suggest, but Quiz
would like to know whether the
sketches were made from nature or
were cGpies. The delicacy of manipu
lation was unusual; but not extraordi
nary if the sketches were merely
reproductions of photographs. On
the other hand, if they were original
freehand drawings, then Mr. Bartels
has a future before him in this branch
of art.
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