Please wait. Contacting image service... loading

Article text

MR. JAMES ASHTON.
EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS.
The exhibition of paintings by Mr.
James Ashton, which will be opened this
afternoon in the Society of Arts gallery,
North-terrace, is said to be the last he will
hold, as an art instructor, as it is his
intention to relinquish teaching at the end
of this year. The building in Grenfell-
street, where his studio has been for so
many years, will be demolished next year,
and a more modern structure erected on
the site. In the present exhibition the
artist has gone farther afield for his sub-
jects than normally. His color sense is
richer than it was, and he has developed
a strength in his paintings that they did
not formerly possess. Strongly apparent
in his latest exhibition is his perception
of the tonal values of Australian sunlight
and moonlight that was so characteristic
of his former work, but allied to it is a
virility of expression that marks the
finished artist. A favorite theme with him
has always been the effect of light on
water, and there are several notable ex-
amples of this phase of his work, includ-
ing "The Waning of the Moon" (which
gained him the Society of Arts prize last
year), "Moonrise," and "The Rising
Moon."
One of the best pictures in the show is
"The Valley of the Hawkesbury,'' painted
by him on a visit to New South Wales last
year. It is probably one of the best he
has done for many years, the perspective
being particularly commendable. The
Blue Mountains figure prominently in the
exhibition, and Mr. Ashton has caught ef-
fectively the peculiar blue tinge from
which they obtain their name. "Clouds in
the Valley" and "Rising Mists in the Blue
Mountains" are so true to nature that one
can almost imagine the actual scene is
confronting him, instead of a picture. The
fleecy clouds and mists are remarkably well
done, and the shafts of light as the morn-
ing sun breaks through the rifts in the
sky strike a particularly happy note.
Other paintings of the same locality which
appeal are "Jamison Valley," "Morning
from Leura," "Echo Point," and "Jami-
son Valley from the Recreation Grounds."
In the last-mentioned, as in several of
the exhibits, the artist has introduced
figures into the landscape, which, is a de-
parture from his general practice, but
which adds considerably to the interest
of the pictures. "Balmoral Beach" and
"Kirribilli" are typical scenes in Sydney
Harbor, which are characterised by
strength of painting and the correctness
of drawing for which Mr. Ashton has al-
ways been noted. Among the water-
colors, "From the Loggia at T'Whare''
stands out as a departure from his normal
work, and others that appeal strongly are
several views of the south coast, such as
"Normanville" and "Willunga."
In addition to his own paintings, Mr.
Ashton has included 40 pictures with which
frequenters of his studio are familiar. They
are portion of the collection of works of
other artists he has purchased from time
to time, several of them being old
masters. "The Descent from the Cross," by
Rembrandt, dated 1654, is the outstanding
example, but there are many others which
should be eagerly sought after, including
three valuable old engravings. "Even-
ing," by George Morland, is another pic-
ture which would be a valuable acquisition
to any collection, and "Draper Memorial,"
by Gus Barnes, a painting of the well-
known Methodist Church in Gilbert-street,
Adelaide, is a pleasing piece of work.
$