LANDSCAPE ART IN AUSTRALIA 



Government, a large portrait of an Australian notable, and has been the 

 Secretary of the Victorian Artists' Society for the past thirty years. 

 J. W. R. Linton (p. 65), born in England and a son of the late Sir J. D. 

 Linton, P.R.I., is practising his art in Perth, Western Australia, much 

 to the advantage and the advancement of his profession in the West, 

 and is represented in the National Art Gallery, Perth, by two works. 

 This article would not be complete without reference to three Austra- 

 lian artists who, in their several ways, have rendered notable service in 

 the advancement of art in Australia. Sid. Long, born in New South 

 Wales in 1 872, has for a number of years past resided in London. He 

 may be said to belong to the Idealistic School, his landscapes being re- 

 markable for poetic feeling, essentially decorative with subdued colours. 

 The Sydney Gallery possesses three of his pictures, perhaps the finest 

 being the one entitled Sadder than a Single Star, The Adelaide Gallery 

 holds two of his works, both of which are idealistic in treatment. He 

 has painted many notable Australians. 



Jesse J. Hilder, who passed away last April, was born in Queensland in 

 1 880, and may not inaptly be styled the Romantic painter of Australian 

 landscape, his work being marked by breadth of treatment and lumi- 

 nosity of colour. He is represented in the Sydney Art Gallery. 

 B. E. Minnis, born in New South Wales in 1 864, painted for a period in 

 Sydney, but for a number of years practised his art in England, return- 

 ing to his native land last year. Whilst in England he contributed ex- 

 tensively to the leading illustrated periodicals, and exhibited both at the 

 Royal Academy and the Paris Salon. As a black-and-white artist he 

 takes foremost rank in Australia, and in the Sydney Gallery is represented 

 by several water-colours. 



The three native-born artists just referred to have each in their way, as 

 I have previously remarked, done much to foster a love for the beautiful 

 in art, and it is to the work and influence of such men that the evolution 

 of a distinctly Australian school of painting owes much. 

 In conclusion it may be said that art in Australia has progressed wonder- 

 fully during the last decade. Whilst in these distant outposts of the 

 British Empire birth has been given to new political ideas, etc., of far- 

 reaching consequence, almost equally pronounced has been the advance- 

 ment of art. This perhaps is not so much to be wondered at, seeing 

 that in ever-growing numbers, and doubtless owing to the increased 

 facility for travel, the native-born student of art avails himself of the 

 obvious advantages afforded by study in the Old World, is encouraged 

 and stimulated thereby to greater efforts, and returns to his native land 

 filled with a noble enthusiasm and an earnest desire to devote the best 

 that is in him to the furtherance of the cause of art in this sunny land. 



JAS. ASHTON 



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