Places

Date: 1876

By: Martin, Albin, 1812?-1888; Gordon, Mona Clifton, 1899-1977

Reference: G-496

Description: An extensive hilly landscape in the Waikato near Matamata with Firth in the centre by his horse, surrounded by large numbers of Maori. A monument to Tamihana Tarapipipi Te Waharoa is on the right not far from the Wairiri waterfall on the far right. The meeting took place in 1870 The painting was reviewed in the Daily Southern Cross, 8 June 1876, p.3: The artist has faithfully depicted the interview, and the beautiful landscape amidst which it took place. The chief personages, the armed band, Thompson's monument, the distant woods of Matamata and the grand mountain chain, with the magnificent waterfall of Wairiri, and the noble peak of Te Aroha mountain in the distance, are well placed on the canvas, and when finished, promise to complete a picture interesting for its historic facts and scenic beauty'. Exhibited: Auckland Institute and Museum, 1876; Albin Martin (curator, Roger Blackley, Auckland Art Gallery), Auckland Art Gallery, Waikato Museum of Art and History, National Library of New Zealand, and Dunedin Public Art Gallery, 12 August 1988 to 30 April 1989. See: Blackley, Roger. "Albin Martin" (Auckland City Art Gallery, 1988) p.60 'While on his Matamata estate in Janury 1870, Firth heard ... Te Kooti Rikirangi was in the mountains opposite. Firth's "friendly natives" fled to the Waikato settlements, while his sons were sent to Cambridge. The next day, Firth met Te Kooti at Tamihana's monument, accompanied by two chiefs and an interpreter. Te Kooti told him "he was weary of fighting and that if Government would let him alone he would fight no more", but that he would never surrender.' Other Titles - Josiah Clifton Quantity: 1 oil(s). Physical Description: Oil on canvas, 496 x 742 mm (sight) Provenance: Estate of Mona Clifton Gordon, granddaughter of J C Firth. On loan to Waikato Art Museum from the time of Mrs Gordon's death in the mid 1970s until 1992.