Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Wednesday 20 October 1948, page 4


Artist Relies

On Charm

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BY OUR ART CRITIC

The quality of life is at once the most elusive and precious quality in art.

Charm will never take its place.

The work of Jocelyn Rickards at the Macquarie Galleries certainly belongs to the charm-school, and, as a substitute, it will carry this young artist quite a distance.

It is the only excuse for all this 18th century chi-chi.

But beneath the affected exterior one finds here an extraordinary

ability.

When Miss Rickards leaves the cloistered precincts of Merioola, and experiences some of the vicissitudes of life, she will have at her command a considerable technical range, to be used to better purpose.

In the meanwhile, one can but admire, and be amused by the elegance of expression in "The Glen" — for all the world a genuine-Wateau Fête Champêtre reproduction.

In her self-portrait alone ("Girl With Green Apple"), stilted though it is, does one detect a little feeling.

Feeling, and the simple presentation which springs from it, is the quality to be pursued here.

The exhibition will open to-day.