Queensland Art Gallery Presscuttings Book 1 : Presscuttings, 1959-1962

Front SATUSIDA1', usrpT. t2. 1953 Australia Lags 25 Years in Art "In most sections of art, Australia is 25 years behind most European countries," said the Direetor of the Queensland Nati llll al Art Gallery (NIT.. Robert Haines) yesterday, "Queensland, in Mille ways is 50 cars behind." Mr. Baines qualified his statement by adding, "1 tent however, that Queensland is developing more rapidly than any other part of Aus- tralia, especially in cultural activities." Mr. Haines said it wns ap- parent that the people al Bundaberg had a great deal of civic pride, as demonstrat- ed by the wide streets, nicely kept lawns and beautiful gar- , Mr. Haines in a talk on "Who Bother About Art?" de- fined art as something which Is conrelved in the mind of Man conveyed to his fellow man. It might be a sonata or a sponge take, he said. The song of a nightingale, how- ever, could not be classed as art, although it wns extreme- ly lovely. "Art is not something you hang on a wall, or something you drink out of. something you sit down on, or the het you put an your lipid, nr the colour you paint your house. "Art is concerned with till these things because the basic prineiples, the shape, form or Colour, are in all." Art galleries, he said, were not very old institutirns, com- paratively - about 100 years or so - and many of the great galleries of the world. like the Louvre, were based Olt princely collections. The Louvre had been based on the collections of the Kings of France and the families, the Bffezi galleries In Flor- ence had been based oft the Collections of the dukes of Tuscany, and even the na- tional London gallery, with its, superb collections, have been even more magnificent If the collections of King Charles had not been dis- persed. In Australia, however, he Mid art galleries had beets formed without any great col- lectinna on which to build, They had had to start with more humble collections. In the past a conception of an art gallery had been some- thing in the nature of n ware- house In which accumulated treasures were stored, and which were more or less. Jumbled together hi hap- ord fashion. om PUBLIC TASTE Within recent years, how- ever, he said, and especially since the end of World War If. conceptions were chang- ing, and the new comer - lion was that art galleries should exist for the express purpose or Improving and educating public taste. "In fact." Mr. Mines saki, "they are in true sense, edu- cational institutions." He added "It is not sufficient to show paintings and sculp- tures. collections of sliver, pot- tery, porcelain embroideries, etc. These should comprise of only works of the past, tit also contemporary objects. n this way, an art gallery can lead public opinion." Mr. Haines also outlined the development tf Queensland National Art Gallery since he took office as director two years ago. He said the trustees had agreed to a policy which would result In a comprehen- sive collection of Australian works, contemporary overseas works, without attempting to purchase old masters because of limited funds and to es- tablish an art museum which would show art objects, He said the Government grant had beets increased from £3750 to £7000 which, although stilt inadequate, would enable necessary development of the gallery. From being the worst gallery in the Commonwealth, Queensland National Gallery had now become cue of the most progressive, ,le added. One of the rens no Queens- land had not progressed be- fore, he said, was because many exhibitions, concerts and other cultural activities had by-passed the State en- tirely. Since the end of the last war. however, he said, this had changed. lie said that recently, hp. portant gifts of valuable paint. fogs had been given to the gallery. both from overseas and Queensland collectors and on every hand, there was evidence of greater public in- terest in the arts. The art trade, he said, had (lone a great. deal towards stimuli] Hog interest In Aus and it was unfortunate that the Government his not :Pen fit to continue with the trade. "COURIER MAIL," " Brisbane, Qld. EPSTEIN BUST IN ART PANEL 1 ;011 the first hew since its inception more than five years ago, Tit! Courier - Moil Art Panel has no pic- tures in it this week. Instead. there .s a bust by [timed ,ettletor Jacob Ep- tett) The bronze bust, en 1pitttor led "Est her. t lie Scu's Datiulver.- the property of Queensland. Notional Art Gallery. Tate selection modmi..,1 in 1949, the bronze was chosen by the 'ate Gallery to represent psteln's work for that year In a recent exhibition. Tim bust has a slightly Egyptian flavour. but else shows the vitality of this sculptor. who has been called the greatest living modeller. The bronae is coloured grey -green- in acconinnce with Epstein's habit of selecting the colour of the bronze to emphasise the character of the subject, "COURIER MAIL," Brisb8ne, Qld. Bequest for art spent advance THE QueentIond Notional It provided that pictures -stable the stalice7 to 1)u ArtGallery hoc spent a bought unit the £2000 must some long -needed paintings. £2000 be -conservative." and bar- i These consisted of nearly private bequest "those which, for lack 'n dozen early Australian before receiving if. of a better term,*are refer -(paintings of the Roberts - red to as 'modern' works." Streeton - Gondol period, The bequest WO, made by The gallerylx C11(111'111/111 which previbusly had been lase Mutest Theresa Tre- of trustees (Mr. E. A. Per- poorly represented in the itosonl said last night that,ga ery. eeke. late of Morrison he gallery had known of Miss Treweeke died tut trees, Cermorne. Sydney, 1 the bequest for some time.'July 12, 1052. She left an n n will which was resealed The trustees had berm able e -late in Queensland wort n the Queensland Supreme to make 811 advance in ex- 1..15,5311 crass 'realty £19, 01.111 yesterday. tpectatIon of the bequest., to personalty £36,126). swayer, , r. Baines said, "that the real future of art development tD Australia will he through I,Imr, becaisat here we have the perfect vehicle for reaching a widely scattered population. "The really Important thing Its Australia, and more par- ticularly in Queensland, is the struggle for :standards - In Bundaberg and other large and small clues and towns, as well as Eirlsbane. "This must not be confined to local wants, but. standards as far as Australia was con- cerned, and ever more Im- portant, standards which would apply In London, Paris Rime or New York." Concluding his address, Mr. Haines congratulated the peo- ple of Bundaberg on hav- ing commenced an art collec- tion such as that. shown in the Council Chambers, but exuresaed the hope that at some future time, the paints would be more suitably used and presented. Mr. Haines said in the short time he had been in Elunqa- berg, he had been greatly im- pressed by the great Interest shown in painting, and the collection of art objects, end had met many people who were anxious to promote these activities. Mr. Haines then Intimated that he would donate an oil enlisting by Bessie Gibson, 11 native of Queensland, whose work, he said was greatly ad- mired, and whom he consid- ered one of Queensland's ow - standing painters, to the City Council's collection. The title of the pointing "Seascape in Prance." Mr. Haines added that although a Queenslander by birth. Bessie Gibson had lived 47 years in Prance. "COURIER MAIL," From "TELEGRAPH," 1,110ki 1953 Sydney, N.S.W. NOVEMBER 20, 1953 i MONEY IN WILL 11 TO BUY PICTURES,: BRISBANE, Thurs. - A Sydney woman bequeathed £2000 to the Queensland National Art Gallery for the purchase of "conservative" pic- tures. The wont= was Miss I purchase of pictures which Theresa Treweeke, for- ttIontAinrglYtobeaurTorrdeect L con- servative type of works as opposed to those which for lack of a better term arc referred to as modern works." As a guide to the Gallery Trustees, she said the "more conservative paint- ings" would be those simi- lar to the one she had pre- sented during recent years. e r 1 y of Harrison Street, Cremorne, Syd- ney. She died on July 12, 1953. The bequest 18 part of her E55.536 Queensland estate. In her will she said: "Such sum of money shall be expended solely in the rom "MORNING HERALD" Sydney, N.S.W. £2,000 Bequest For "Conservative" Art BRISBANE, Thursday. -A Sydney woman has bequeathed £2,0011 to the Queensland National Art Gallery to he spent solely on the purchase of "conservative" pictures, The woman, Miss Maria Theresa Trewecke. of Harri- son Street, Cremorne, died on lily 12 last year: 'The bequest forms part of her Queensland estate of X.55,536. She said in her will that the 2,099 "shall be expended Brisbane, Qld. iname Laura Knight oil painting hung Gift t Gallery An oil painting by the distinguished British artist Dame. Laura Knight made Its first appearance on the 0 l Follow examp e Mr. Trout raid he hoped low example of Thomas Brown ant Sons Ltd, which, ',trough their resident 'director (Mr. C. L. Harden) Iliad now given on two pensions to the Gallery. Mr. Trout also announced that five other pictures had other companies would of walk of the Queensland been given or promised la, through the Gallery Society National Aft Gallery during the year. They are: night. Colnuhoun s "For - The painting was bought trait of ts Child" (100 In England for 495 guineas guineas), given by Mr. Leon and was presented to the Trout; Sir Arthur Streeton's Gallery by Thomas Brown "Still Life" 1165 guineas), and Sons Ltd. a. given by Mr. J. W. Fletcher; It Is entitled "Mighty Laic picture to be chosen 11300), a Rose" and was hung in premixed by Mr. E. M the Royal Academy Summer Tooth; picture to be cheaen, Exhibition in London this promised by the family of year. of the late T. C. Beirne. The Queensland National ,Mr a. re-electedt. rg;g4; Onllery Society chairman fiiiiturtr, silo mire new .MMIllell (Mr, Leon Trout) announced roomoto: Dr. tiArmip.z .eher. Dr: the gift at the Society's rtrgn.I"lin: CoiOlthoun. onnual general meeting last Clittpnldte. notes. J nil -among night. MO/. inseam. r eutriusoe, Arlen Johrlat01111. OWE. 13.41111111. solely in the purchase of pic- tures which can fairly he re- garded as belonging to the more conservative type of works, as opposed to those which for lack of n belie term are referred to as modern works." As a guide to the gallery trustees, the more conserya- live paintings were illustrate by those which she had pre seated in recent years. Miss Treweek's Queereilan estate consisted of L19.410 and personal( £36,126. 11