[Clarke, Cuthbert Charles] 1819-1863 :Hot springs. Sir G Grey and my father in the early 1850's [ie December 1849]

Shows a view of Lake Rotomahana from Ngawhara Hill. Two men stand on the left, by a dead tree, pointing at the lake. To the right is a whare. In the lake is a small island (Puai Island) with steam rising and several low Maori dwellings. The White Terraces and mountains are in the background. On the right is a whare. For detailed description of the view see: Journal Taranaki by way of Rotorua, Taupo and the West Coast undertaken in the summer of 1849-50 by his Excellency the Governor-in-chief of New Zealand. Auckland 1851

Other Titles - Rotomahana Lake, 29 December 1849.

Inscriptions: (On accompanying paper label in pen): [Title]

See also P S RNK 113 1/2; RNK 114 1/2; 115 1/2; RNK 116/1/2 which are by G F Swainson after C C Clarke and appear to have been sketched by Clarke on the same expedition

See also drawing in the British Library by Clarke, 'Rotomahana Lake New Zealand Aug 1850' (Add. MS 19954, Folio 30 (33) which is very similar to this view, complete with dead tree and two gesturing figures on the left, a whare to the right, an island with buildings in the centre of the lake. Sir George Grey is identified as the left-hand figure. (Photograph in photo files in Drawings, Paintings & Prints; also a copy at E-144-030)

Attributed to Cuthbert Clarke.

Painted on Sir George Grey's expedition 1849-1850

The title is taken from a note on an accompanying label, and does not imply that Cuthbert Clarke's father is depicted (see AT 3/1/1/, 30 March 1983). The provenance of the work is unknown, but it is likely that the figure depicted is either G. S. Cooper (Grey's assistant private secretary), or Lieut. Symonds; both these men accompanied Grey on his expedition. Symonds had no children, so the 'father' referred to is most likely to be Cooper. Another slight possibility is that the label was written by a child of Cuthbert Clarke's. He had two sons born in Castlemaine, Victoria, in 1856 and 1858. His wife died on the birth of the second son; Clarke died in 1863, leaving the children as young orphans, whose fate is unknown. However the reference to 'Sir G Grey' suggests someone familiar with Grey, who was famous in New Zealand, rather than in Australia

Quantity: 1 watercolour(s).

Physical Description: Watercolour 185 x 252 mm