[Strutt, William] 1825-1915 :[Engineering a tent as his first home on arrival in Taranaki in New Zealand, 1856]

Three people building a tent on a wooden framework, surrounded by bush. A European woman in hat, cape and full skirt, probably William Strutt's wife, Sarah, is in front of the tent with her back to the viewer. A European man, probably the artist, wearing a military-style cap and blue jacket, is beyond the tent, facing the viewer and a Maori man or woman is alongside him. There is a large wicker basket on the right of the image.

Title taken from information supplied to a previous owner, E G F Vogtherr, by the artist's granddaughter and recorded on a typed label glued to the back of the original mat.

William and Sarah Strutt left Australia for Taranaki in February 1855. They spent 18 months in New Zealand attempting to survive as pioneers, then returned to Australia.

Quantity: 1 watercolour(s).

Physical Description: Pencil and watercolour 72 x 115 mm

Provenance: Previously owned by E.G.F. Vogtherr [his bookplate dated 1968 on back of an early mat]; acquired from the artist's granddaughter, a Mrs Thompson "taken from a private folio", according to a typed label glued to the back of the mat, presumably by Mr Vogtherr.