Barraud, Charles Decimus, 1822-1897 :[Craigieburn Valley on the West Coast Road. 1873].

Shows a view looking along the valley with glimpses of a lake (probably Lake Pearson) with mountain ranges in the distance. In the left foreground, a horseman rides along a dirt road which curves away at the right, where two figures walk, possibly wearing backpacks. There are signs of shingle slides and erosion on the slope of the bushcovered hill at the left.

This is the original watercolour from which the chromolithograph "Craigieburn Valley" was produced for Barraud's "New Zealand graphic and descriptive", 1877. Barraud's associated text refers to 'the lake seen in the distance is another of the beautiful glacier lakes ... takes its name from a sheep station in the vicinity ...'. This makes it most likely to be Lake Pearson. If it is Lake Pearson, the snow-clad mountain beyond it is probably Mount Binzer and the hill alongside is Purple Hill. There is some possibility that the lake is Lake Grasmere, but Grasmere is not flanked by a steep hill as shown in this view

Label on backing board (not retained, not in hand of the artist): "Scene on the West Coast Road from Christchurch to Hokitika passing through the Craigburn Valley"

Quantity: 1 watercolour(s).

Physical Description: Watercolour, 253 x 352 mm.

Provenance: Previously part of the collection of Sir James Fletcher.