48. Harry Linley Richardson 1879 - 1947
Ninewha-I-Te-Rangi of Papawai Pah - Celebrated Chieftainess of the Maori in the Wairarapa Valley
Oil on canvas
81 x 56 cm
Signed
est. $10,000 - 15,000
Relative Size: Ninewha-I-Te-Rangi of Papawai Pah - Celebrated Chieftainess of the Maori in the Wairarapa Valley
Relative size

Label affixed verso reads: Marion Richardson 9 The High, SW16. The property of Robert Richardson 28 Aldrington Road, SW16

Second Label affixed verso reads: Ninewha-I-Te-Rangi of Papawai Pah Celebrated Chieftainess of the Maori in the Wairarapa Valley, North Island, New Zealand. Varnished 1938 Exhibited at Wembley Exhibition - For which, (and other paintings, drawings & etchings) awarded medal. Reproduced in 'Times' as representative of New Zealand Art and Artists. Painted by H Linley Richardson R B A Wellington, New Zealand. (In Artist's hand)

Richardson painted many realistic portraits of eminent Maori of the lower North Island, Rotorua and King Country regions. While critics agree that the quality of the portraits is uneven, stylistically they are representative of the regionalist movement in Western art that emphasised local themes and ordinary people. The portraits are comparable with the work of Canadian Emily Carr and Britain's Dame Laura Knight. Sir Apirana Ngata said the portraits had achieved 'a new and striking interpretation of the spirit of the Maori people.'

Born in England in 1879, Richardson attended Alleyn's College of God's Gift, Dulwich. From 1896 to 1899 he attended the Westminster School of Art, winning a Queen's prize for excellence in life drawing. His training culminated in study in Paris at the Académie Julian in 1900. He became the art instructor at Wellington Technical College in 1908 and was elected to the council of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts.

1915 saw Richardson begin teaching art at Wellington College. By this time he had become interested in Maori culture and design through his association with Elsdon Best. In 1928 Richardson was art master at Palmerston North Boys' High School. He died in Palmerston North in 1947.

Works are housed in the collections of Manawatu Art Gallery, and Te Papa Tongarewa.

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