Charles Blomfield

A Bush Mill, Whatipu, West Coast

A Bush Mill, Whatipu, West Coast by Charles Blomfield

Artwork Detail

The remnants of the forest that frame this scene foretell the clearing of the trees behind. It was the practice for gangs of sawyers to go into the virgin bush and set up shanties in the valleys which they would use as their base while felling the surrounding trees.

Blomfield became a passionate advocate for the conservation of native bush and reflected that he was grateful that, having arrived in New Zealand in 1863, he saw the country ‘before the hand of man had spoiled most of its natural beauty.’ (Enduring Nature: Hoki Atu Hoki Mai, 2004)

Title
A Bush Mill, Whatipu, West Coast
Artist/creator
Charles Blomfield
Production date
1880
Medium
oil on canvas
Dimensions
355 x 508 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, purchased 1930
Accession no
1930/22/2
Other ID
0/27 Old Accession Number
Copyright
No known copyright restrictions
Department
New Zealand Art
Display status
Not on display

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