Brees, Samuel Charles, 1810-1865 :[The town of] Petre Wanganui. [1844?].

Shows the town of Petre or Wanganui, with its earliest houses, and Christ Church, the first church, at the left. The river lies beyond, with hills in the background. A small group of armed men can be seen in the left foreground. The buildings in the distance across the river appear to comprise Putiki Wharenui Pa, and, to the left, the house of Rev Richard Taylor

This is the original watercolour for the handcoloured engraving that appears in Brees' "Pictorial illustrations of New Zealand", Plate 6, no 19.

The artist may have added the group of soldiers at a later date. He left New Zealand in 1845, before British troops were present in the lower North Island. There are no soldiers in the engraving derived from this watercolour.

The town of Whanganui or Wanganui was originally named Petre by the New Zealand Company. It reverted to its original Maori name in the 1854.

Other Titles - Whanganui

Quantity: 1 watercolour(s).

Physical Description: Watercolour, 163 x 226 mm.

Provenance: Previously bought on 6 February 1937, by Mr Donald McElwain of London and Wanganui, from Miss Webb (Tunbridge Wells, Kent), the adopted daughter, or companion, of the great-niece of the artist. Note at AT 10/14, 1 May 2003, accompanying painting, states that Miss Webb was also the adopted daughter of Miss Brees.