Workof theMonth

Gottfried LINDAUER

Portrait of Huria Whakamairu in Wairarapa,
New Zealand (1876)

Gottried Lindauer (1839 - 1926) along with Charles Frederick Goldie, is the best-known painter of the old time Maori. He was a full-time professional artist who had grown up in Bohemia, studied in Vienna, and did not come to New Zealand until 1873. By that stage the Maori had been subdued and large areas of land taken in retribution. Old customs like tattooing were on the decline, and with the increasing influence of Christianity, many of the old beliefs and much of the old life was irremediably changed.1

Lindauer was a trained portrait artist, quite capable of turning his hand to European subjects when the opportunity arose. But it was as a painter of the Maori that he made his reputation: he became the first artist to specialise in this area and to devote part of his life to it.2

Huria Whakamairu Ngati Kahungunu(?), Hamua, Ngati Te Hauaitu, Ngati Te is recorded as living in the Wairarapa during the years 1850 to 1869.

Her wider circle included Retimana Te Korou at Kaikokirikiri a notable chief, who in 1883-84 embraced Mormon beliefs and became president of the first Mormon branch at Te Ore Ore.3

1 Michael Dunn New Zealand Painting, a concise history Auckland University press pg 35
2 ibid
3 Dictionary of NZ biography database

Work on loan from a private collection