Chesney, Francis Rawdon, b 1824 :Nouveau Zealand Port de Nicolson (de Wellington) aupres de la capital [1865?]

A rocky foreshore and cliff in the foreground, possibly Kaiwharawhara, or further along the Hutt Road at Rocky Point looking towards Khandallah and Ngaio. Only two houses are shown amidst bushy hills. In the foreground a European man is on horseback, accompanied by a Maori man and woman. Another European is standing near a Maori man while the latter pushes a small canoe out from the rocks. A single yacht is in the water.

Date of 1865 is suggested because an F. R. Chesney wrote to James Coutts Crawford from Tasmania on geological matters in December 1864 and may have come later to Wellington as a visitor. Wellington became the capital in 1865. The view appears to be quite early with only two houses showing and Maori shown in partial European dress. The signature on the letter from Tasmania matches that on the watercolour. Chesney's letter makes it clear that he is a resident in Tasmania and that English is probably his first language, suggesting that the French title may have been added by a later owner

Other Titles - Nouvelle Zelande, Port de Nicholson. New Zealand Port Nicholson, Wellington, near the capital [translation and correction]

Inscriptions: Recto - bottom right - monogram FC in ink; also F. R. Chesney in brushpoint.; Verso - title in pencil in French; also inscriptions in pencil transcribing the title and repeating it in English along with a signature and date (17 Jany 1934) in the hand of A. W. F. Fuller. Further very faint illegible inscriptions in pencil.

Quantity: 1 watercolour(s).

Physical Description: Watercolour on light card, 195 x 284 mm.

Provenance: Collection of A. W. F. Fuller.