English and continental pictures, sculpture and engravings for our own
collection. At the same time I would point out that Mr. Hall entirely
neglects to recommend that pictures painted in Australia should be bought.
This is a very grave omittance, as will be recognised by anyone who is at
all aware of the high standard to which painting has attained in the
Australian colonies. To those who do not know I may say that many of the
students who studied under Mr. Hall’s predecessor, the late G. F.
Folingby, when they have gone to Paris have immediately taken a good
position in the artistic world, and many of their pictured have been
awarded medals and been hung in the place of honour in the Salon. To those
who are interested in artistic matters, the names will be familiar of
Longstaff, Fox, Altson, Bunny, and others too numerous to mention, with
that of McKennell in sculpture. Of even earlier Australians than these are
C. D. Richardson (who took the prizes for both painting and sculpture at
the Academy—the two never before taken, I believe, by the one person) and
Tom Roberts who also distinguished himself at home. Those two latter, with
several of the former, are now living and painting in Australia. Many
others there are whose forte is to show the beauty of Australian
landscape. Some years ago several large collections of English pictures by
the best men wore brought out to Sydney and Melbourne, and exhibited as a
mixed collection with pictures by Australian artists, and the local
productions did not suffer by the contrast. The trustees of the National
Galleries of both Sydney and Melbourne are encouraging art in their
respective countries to a considerable extent. Not only is there a
National School of Painting in both places, where the students get the
best instruction at nominal fees and travelling scholarships are bestowed,
but the Governments liberally subsidise independent artistic societies.
Besides this, each gallery is buying liberally the pictures of Australian
artists. I hope that our trustees will see fit to follow this good example
and afford the means of educating the eyes of our public to see the
beauties that certainly exist in the landscape and incidents of our
country.—Yours, etc.,

KANGAROO.
Perth, October 15.