Gottfried Lindauer in New Zealand

This NFU portrait of 19th Century artist Gottfried Lindauer traces his wide-ranging life, from his Bohemian origins and arrival in New Zealand in 1874, aged 35, to his death in Woodville in 1926. Lindauer’s portraits, especially of Māori in formal dress, became an iconic record of colonial era New Zealand people. A market developed for Lindauer’s work, established by his patron Henry Partridge. Lindauer’s commissions (held at Auckland Art Gallery) are respectfully filmed here; and his process is detailed, including his most famous image, Heeni Hirini and Child.

Ana hadn’t been too happy about posing. She thought, as did some other Māoris, that to make a picture of someone was to insult someone’s atua or spirit.

– From the narration

Key Cast & Crew

David H Fowler

Producer

David Dry

Camera

Geoff Shepherd

Sound

Brian Shennan

Sound

Arthur Everard

Editor, Director, Writer