WienekeArchiveBook1

Show At Gallery Bye Australian Painter By J. WIENFKL A large and varied collection of oil paintings by Australian painter, E. Phillips Fox, will be officially opened at the National Gallery this even- ing. Pimps Fox's name is not Technically, he handled his widely known in Queensland, paint in a simple, direct man - ,so this timely exhibition from ncr. without a great deal of the south will allot d good op- repainting maintaining port unity of seeing the work of freshness and freedom. 'one of our most, versatile painters. More of these large gallery exhibitions of our Australian painters' work would be very much appreciated in Queens- land. We certainly have not had many. Fox began his studies at the National Gallery. Melbourne. At 22 he was in Paris. He worked and exhibited on the Continent for a number of years and found Kireat interest in the work of the French Impressionists. In 1890 he returned to Aus- tralia, painting and teaching In Melbourne; before very long. however, the old world at-' tracted him again. Fox travelled widely and ex-, hibited in many important over-, seas exhibitions, including the' Salon de Beau Arts. and the Royal Academy. Finally he re- turned to his homeland, but after two short years of work, died in 1915, aged 50. French Flavour Fox was a figure and land- scape painter absorbed with the problems of colour and light, his work having a distinct French flavour. Many of the canvases are on a large scale; however, his compositions re- mained simple and dignified. ' He was a rich colourist-but Understood restraint and in- vested his work with a lyrical quality of colour and tone, often painting with broken har- monious greys, skilfully sug- gesting stronger colours, and at- mosphere. canvas.' has been given pride of place and it's a happy joyfu a fine picture, thing-, mospheric! and colourful and very welll controlled. This reminds one, of Renoir. No. 25 is also a large' The Arbour, a large stn There is a quiet strength about his portraits, though no over emphasis of character. In the landscape work. rela- tive values are convincing and sure: and there is great feel- ing and tranquility about the late afternoon pictures. canvas full of interest. Charming Portrait The portrait of Mrs. Ellis Is charming and dignified. You must look at this work more' than once, however, No. 30 is a small work,I possessing a beautiful quality-, it's a low toned head against a simple background. There is a capital little , study of a French peasant,' strongly and clearly painted against a warm ground and luminous sky-it's good. Again the French influence is. strong in Nos. 12 and 13. There is a fine vigour and solidity about No. 13, and No 12 gives a swift impression emerging from subtle sugges- tion of colour. The Ferry is a departure in subject matter-successful, too -though the white passages appear a little chalky. The Cabbage Patch is an excellent work-tender in feel- ing. with a be.: ut Hut light II throughout. Good Show At Art Gallery IN the exhibitions of colour 3- reproductions opening to- day at the Queensland National Gallery, U.N.E.S.C.O. has as- sembled a fine collection. It is the first exhibition of this type to be prepared by U.N.E.S.C.O. and will travel the world. One of the purposes of the exhibition is to illustrate, as far as 50 reproductions will permit, the development of painting front the time of the enthusiastic impressionists until today. Naturnlly, that is a tall order, bt1'. it can be said the collec- tion presents a very strong out- line of the period. However, though the Impressionists are well represented in names, the work selected to cover this very interesting period, could. I believe, have been a little more varied. Again, not any particular school or artist has been un- duly favoured. and with such wide difference of approach, idea, and technique, 'the show becomes a stimulating and en- joyable experience. Not very Much is seen of Cubism and nothing of Surrealism. Many well known names have been included in the collection, and more than half are French. Among these brilliant painters are Renoir, Monet, Gaugan, Monet, Utrillo, Van Gogh, and Vlaminck. A number of other European countries, and Russia and America are also repre- sented. -English artists contribute three works. They are by Mat- thew Smith, Henry Moore, and Ben Nicholson. Everyone should endeavour to see this show. It is very in- structive and will remain on view for one month.-JAMES WIENEKE.