Charles Blomfield has long been recognised as the most popular early New Zealand painter of the Pink and White Terraces. Blomfield first saw the Terraces in December 1875 and made the comment that they were 'exceedingly beautiful and graceful'. Returning nearly ten years later, he spent six weeks painting this 'eighth wonder of the world'. Blomfield's paintings were sold from his Victoria Arcade studio in Queen Street. Open daily, the studio was a popular destination for tourists. The Terraces were tragically destroyed by the Tarawera eruption of 1886. In response to public demand Blomfield continued to paint this favoured subject, immortalising the lost terraces in his paintings.