Queensland Art Gallery Presscuttings Book 8 : Pressclippings, 1977-1981

A brief flowering of art By PATRICIA ROLFE WHO hclong more truly in the centenary edition of The Bull,•ti11 than the painters of the Heidelberg School. who blossomed in the 1890s when The 811/leti11 had its first flowering? Oxford University Press has just published A11stra/ia11 Paimers 1J{ t/1<• Heide/herK Schon/: The Jack Ma/11011 Col/ectio11. with an introduction and notes by Patrick McCa ughey at a recommended $35. Manton began his collection. now gathered at Ranyule. a neo-Gothic mansion in Heidelhcrg and an extension of the National Gallery of Victoria. in 1961. It was to he. and is. a memorial to his father, who. Manton reca lls. was young and poor and ambitious when the Australian Impressionists were: he grew to be a successful Melbourne shop– keeper. The collection now comprises nearly 70 paintings (there arc 67 color plates in the book). Manton can see gaps hut he has been conscientious a nd , at times. lucky. The collection includes, 1;. lht. 1U04) 'Ptione: 11.111a ... ,. Press Cuttings Agenor Melbourne, Victoria From "BULLETIN" Sydney, N.S w 1 . u ... j Al .. Blo>11om1, Bolt HIii, by Arthur SlrHlon, 1890. 011 on c1nv11 43.8 scene-setters. a Thomas Clark. two J. H. Curses and three Ruvclots. Then there are Nerli, three: Julian Ashton, two : Tom Roberts. six: Frederick McCubbin. 15: Arthur Streeton. eight: Charles Conder. 10: Walter Withers, seven : David Davies. six: Rupert Runny. two : Thea Proctor, one: and John Peter Russell. two. lfowevcr strongly these artists arc still held in the hearts of average Australians. they must still undergo constant reassessment from critics in the light of what happened after that brief period of "blue and gold." Professor Mccaughey sums them up as. gathered in this collection. they seem to him : "The period of the Mcidclhcrg School is oft en seen ns 11 particularly herok nr Tiff BULLETIN. CENTENARY ISSUE. JAN UA RY 29. 19R0