IMAGE
[Artist unknown] :[Wiremu Henare Taratoa offers water to Lieutenant-Colonel Booth, 1864. 1860s?].
- Date
- 1864 - 1875
- By
- Robley, Horatio Gordon, 1840-1930
- Reference
- A-172-033
- Description
A depiction of an incident at Battle of Gate Pa, 1864, where Booth was mortally wounded. Shows a Maori man, intended for Wiremu Taratoa, kneeling beside the recumbent figure of Lieutenant Colonel Booth, holding a bowl to his lips. A simplified rendering of the trenches of Gate Pa and a Maori whare and pataka inside a fence are seen in the background, close to a bay in Tauranga Harbour. Cabbage trees are on the right
Formerly attributed to Robley.
H G Robley's portraits of Wiremu Taratoa, along with photographs of him, show no moko. The Maori man offering water in this view has moko. If the subject is Wiremu Taratoa, it is not an accurate depiction of his appearance. It is likely to have been drawn after the event and not from life. It is very naive in style
Other Titles - A Maori giving a wounded soldier drink near Gate Pa, Tauranga, 1864
On verso: Account of the Maori treatment of dying pakeha (pencil inscription): "Gate Pa, Tauranga. Sir D Cameron was commander of the forces, with the 68th Infantry, and the 43rd Flying Column, on the night of the 29th April 1864. The Maoris remembered mercy in the hours of victory, and treated our dying officers with humanity worthy of the imitation and admiration of all civilized nations. No hostile hand tried in the hour of death, alread [sic] fast approaching. Their persons and their property were alike respected. An effort was made by the Maori to relieve the sufferings of those who were still alive. Lieu-Colonel Booth, was shot through the spine and arm, his wounds were mortal, but did not produce immediate death. Then behold a Rebbel [sic] Maori stole up to him. The heart of the Maori was touched by the sad sight of the Pakeha and Booth called out for "water". The Maori shook his head, saying no water in the Pa".
Quantity: 1 watercolour(s).
Physical Description: Painting on card, monotone wash and Chinese white 231 x 185 mm
Provenance: Unknown. The work was earlier attributed to H G Robley, and located with work by Robley, location A-033-020. However it is not in Robley's style
Transfers: Transferred from A-033-020..
- Access restrictions
- Partly restricted - Please use surrogate in place of original
- Format
- 1 watercolour(s), Works of art, Wash drawings, Conjectural works, Portraits, Painting on card, monotone wash and Chinese white 231 x 185 mm, Orientation: Vertical image
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Robley, Horatio Gordon, 1840-1930. [Artist unknown] :[Wiremu Henare Taratoa offers water to Lieutenant-Colonel Booth, 1864. 1860s?].. Ref: A-172-033. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22332523More information can be found in our terms of use.