Clere, Frederick de Jersey 1856-1952 :St Mary's Church, Karori. 1912

A view from the church's front gate in Karori Road of the church from the north-east, with the bell-tower closest to the viewer. The church is not shown exactly as built

In a letter dated July 15 1963, Clere's son, E. H. de J. Clere, refers to this watercolour "I don't think we had a photo of the church in the office but we had a very nice artist's painting made by one of our draughtsmen in 1909-1910. I cannot remember whom I gave it to unless it was Mr C.H.Taylor of the Turnbull Library to whom I gave a number of my Father's church drawings or it may have been Mr Martin of Porter and Martin, the architects." Mr Clere was writing some fifty years later and may have forgotten some details, since the watercolour is signed by his father, not by a draughtsman, and is 1912, not 1909 or 1910. He must have given it to Mr Martin, who passed it to the Church, who in turn gave it to the Library. It is just possible that Clere has signed a work done by one of his draughtsmen; however the style appears to be his. For a copy of the letter see MS Papers-1808-61 and photocopy held in the Drawing's & Prints artists' file under Clere.

Mr Clere also comments "We have been only too proud of the Church both inside and outside & consider it one of my father's best works after St Mary of the Angels [Boulcott Street]"

This view does not show the church as built. Details of the tower, the roof and the arrangment of the parts all vary somewhat from the church as built in 1911

Inscriptions: Recto - bottom right - F. de J. Clere 1912

Quantity: 1 watercolour(s).

Physical Description: Watercolour 270 x 360 mm

Provenance: Hung in Clere's office for an unknown length of time; passed to his son; given to the architects Porter & Martin when the church was refurbished; passed to the Church