This
exhibition, organised by the
Castlemaine Art Gallery and Historical
Museum, was definitely one I didn’t want to miss. When I received an
invitation from the Williams sisters (Pat,
Gay and Diane) to join them to
see it I dropped everything and said yes – and was glad I did – I loved
it! On the way there you would have been forgiven for thinking it was a
Sunday school picnic; we started singing all the old songs – and don’t the
sisters have nice voices! Watch out for the new group sensation – “The
Williams Sisters et Al”
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Two views of Venice by E. Phillips Fox
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The
MPRG always has
an interesting smaller display in the foyer, and this time it was a
selection of
Albert Tucker’s works on Sorrento and Blairgowrie. Mixed
media mostly, watercolor, gouache and pastel. They were lively and
colorful, and depicted the area well – rock pools, waves and beaches.
After a cuppa we
went in to the main event. “Venice is a dream. It is too beautiful – all
and more than I ever imagined”. So said
Hans Heysen in 1902, and some of
his work was represented here. I suppose Venice has always been a mecca
for artists, and no wonder, with the varied colours of the buildings, the
reflections, bridges, gondolas and other boats. Heysen was joined by many
of our old friends, Streeton, Daryl and Lionel Lindsay, Ethel Carrick Fox
and E. Phillips Fox, Rick Amor, Louis Kahan and Joseph Zbukvic. Plus lots
of others not so familiar to us.
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Ethel Carrick Fox: "Venice" (oil)
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E. Phillips Fox:
"Venetian Boats" (Oil)
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There
were nineteen Streetons, mainly oils, and they were lovely! A surprise was
some Streeton drawings, delightful. All the bigger oils in the
exhibition each had their own spotlight, which gives a fantastic effect;
perhaps we should install them for our own paintings at home!
I would like
to mention the following paintings in particular.
The
Streetons were all impressive but I think my favorite was Arthur
Streeton “Sunrise, Venice” oil
1908. Not as much detail as some of the
others – the sky and water were the features. Streeton
and his wife Nora Clench were honeymooning in Venice in 1908 – but
obviously plenty of time was given to painting. Perhaps Nora found some
musical friends and played her violin while Arthur was painting.
David Newbury
“Tranquil thoughts from abroad – Venice” oil on paper 1991 was one of my favorites. A scene
with light coming into a narrow canal with of course two rows of buildings
on each side and light on the water. It relied not on detail but on the
colours – greens, blues, mauves and some warm colours on the buildings and
of course repeated in the water. It really caught my eye.
Louis Kahan
“Bridge of Sighs” Ink and Wash 1978 took the prize for the medium used very effectively in an unusual way.
The fine and detailed drawing was done on a café au lait colored paper,
and the light coming from the gap in the buildings and onto the water was
done (it seemed to me) in a diluted white gouache. Most effective.
Dora Meeson
“Titian’s Palace on the Grand Canal” Oil 1930 I liked for its French
Impressionist feeling – oranges, pinks, blues and creams in the buildings
and the water with a very “Monet” feel. Gondolas and one of those crooked
posts added the final touches.
E.
Phillips Fox and Ethel Carrick Fox were also honeymooning in 1907, and did
some lovely small plein air paintings. Ethel Carrick Fox “Venice
Scene” Oil c1907, the one that is featured on the brochure is typical
of both their work, employing gorgeous blues, apricots, peaches and creams
(good enough to eat?).
I
particularly liked E. Phillips Fox “Venetian Boats” Oil 1906-7
with tall coloured sails on the boats. What a wonderful subject with their
colours of oranges, yellows and creams. Another painting with these boats
in it was James R Jackson “Bridge at Chiogga, Venice” 1907.
A
glass cabinet contained a sketchbook of
Rick Amor’s labelled “Sketchbook
- USA: Scotland: Venice: England: Italy: Ireland: Erith Island: Vic”. It
was open at a panoramic (across both pages) scene of Venice. We all
wanted to look at the whole sketchbook!
We spoke to
Judith Wills
(one
of the Twenty Melbourne Painters). One of the exhibition items – William
Dargie “Canal in Venice” Oil 1956 is lent by her. She asked after members
of Waverley Arts Society that she remembers and sends best wishes.
Altogether an
exhibition “NOT TO BE MISSED.” I realise that you may not be reading this
in time to go to Mornington to see it, but please note that after going to
Adelaide it returns to Geelong in Oct – Nov 2005.
Alison
Simpson
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