Description
Shows two women seated outside a thatched shelter, the one on the right suckling a baby. At right reclines a small child watching, beside a resting dog (head only visible), and a red-cloaked woman on hands and knees attends a fire behind the group. Behind the 2 seated women, stands a woman with green pendant earring and two feathers in her hair, wearing a white beribboned blouse, and native cloak. The seated woman watching the mother wears her hair with centre part in Victorian style, pulled gently back, looped under the ears. She also wears a European white blouse under a Maori cloak, and over her right ear are two short black and white feathers and a long white plume.
There is bush in the left background.
Relevant notes by Oliver, to accompany his lithographs in "Sketches in New Zealand" (London, Dickinson Bros, 1852): "Those represented in the drawing belong to Pomare's Pah near the Bay of Islands and were sketched at Koroaiki [Kororareka] at the famous feast of 1851 given by Tamati Waka Nene [Thomas Walker]... The girl [standing behind] is Maria, a remarkably fine girl, and now married to a native. The woman with the baby is said to be the daughter of Chevalier Dillon, and on the left is Jane who is famed for her personal attractions [possibly Jane Gray]. The old lady on the right is Nahuia, Pomare's wife, who placed herself in that "becoming" attitude to avoid having her picture taken".
Described in a list of Oliver paintings in the possession of Mr G.C.S. Oliver, as "Four women, baby and child with dog in front of hut".
Certificate of verification, signed by Madeleine McClintock on 17 May 1985, on verso of backing board.
Similar to "[Half castes New Zealand]" 1851 (privately owned, and illustrated on the front cover of McArthur & Co auction catalogue, 20 October 1983); and the 1852 lithograph "Half castes of Pomare's Pah" (London, Dickinson Bros, 1852). The latter is held at ATL C-054-006, and also as one of the lithographs bound in Richard A. Oliver's "Sketches in New Zealand" (London, Dickinson Bros, 1852).
Note that the only legitimate daughter of Chevalier Dillon was not in New Zealand during the period when this picture was executed; she died in Australia in 1849. However this young woman may be illegitimate
The only "Nga Huia" found in biographical files (no "Nahuia" found) was a daughter of Pomare rather than a wife.
'Jane, famed for her personal attractions' may be Jane Gray, daughter of Alexander Gray and Kotero Hinerangi.
Other Titles - Four women; baby and child with dog in front of hut. A group outside a tent, Pomare's Pa, Bay of Islands [former title]
Image Licence
All Rights Reserved
Image Credit
Alexander Turnbull Library
Location
Opua Wharf, Opua, Northland, New Zealand
Country
New Zealand
Tags
Category
People & Society
TWW Comment
The Pa was located on a prominent point over the inlet 1 km southeast of Opua wharf. (https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/science-and-technical/sap261_2._b_of_islands.pdf)
