Early Landscape Painting in New Zealand

Throughout history New Zealands landscape and scenery has always been a popular subject for artists and painters around the world. In the mid nineteenth century when there was an increase in european settlement and a heightened interest in New Zealand, 1with the pioneers came different groups of travel artists. Some stayed for extended visits of up to three years while others spent a large number of their lives exploring and recording the land. Among the arrivals were professionals and amateurs, some working for companies and others painting simply for pleasure and enjoyment. There were also numerous attitudes and influences displayed in these paintings, and a diverse display of styles and talent from all kinds of different people.

One rather important style was that of the topographical artists and draughtsmen. These people were the professionals who had been trained in Europe, and were hired by the New Zealand Company to provide paintings and sketches of this newfound land. The general idea of this, was to use these drawings to map and advertise colonization in New Zealand and to attract family and friends to join them in the Pacific. Paintings produced, showed vast are

On the other hand there was the romanticists, who also sent a message across to Europe but in a slightly different way. They too had to entice over settlers but for them it was by showing the differences between the two countries. Artists like Charles Heaphys expressed New Zealand as a newfound paradise. Perfect looking landscapes, beautiful scenery and landmarks, great curved mountains and fresh lush forests. He saw the uniqueness in our country and wanted others to come and experience a new life in a very different place.

Obviously there were, and still are many differing attitudes towards New Zealand, all of which are expressed in various styles and approaches. Even though they are often conflicting, it is what makes our painting history so interesting and important. We will forever be challenging those whom see things differently to us, but it is important to remember that New Zealand really does have a beauty and uniqueness all of its own, and will always provide great landscapes for artists and painters to observe and express as they see fit.

Like Kinder there were a few painters whose style changed to express our landscape, but a large majority merely painted with the same approach as to that which they had back home. Although they were expected to depict with reasonable accuracy the uniqueness of our scenery, artists such as William Hodges basically saw New Zealand as a new country holding all the remarkable landforms of other countries. 6He therefore painted with the same form, light and colour as he had when doing works in Switzerland, Norway and England, when in fact New Zealands lighting and appearance was quite different. One of his pieces, After rain, Lake Whakatipu, completed in 1896 is hardly a fair portrayal of the fresh, bright colours of our landscape. The lack of greenery and the dull, morbid atmosphere is much more that of Europes landscapes rather than our own.

His Romantic intentions are shown with the curves of the waves and subtle reflections in the water, the sky is a dull grey/blue but not as dreary and moody as was that of Hodges. 4No matter what scene it was that he was painting he always saw it as incredi

Some topics in this essay:
Lake Whakatipu, Cambridge University, Zealand Company, Aotearoa Throughout, Charles Heaphys, William Fox, Edmund Normas, Tasmans Gulf, Europe Kinder, Southward Painted, zealand company, highly regarded, zealand settlers, william fox, vast land, artists painters, topographical artists, nineteenth century, charles heaphy, piece europe,