Exhibitions
Christchurch
RODNEY WILSON
PETRUS VAN DER VELDEN, Paintings and Drawings
Although galleries in Auckland have been selling historical paintings in an exhibition context lately, in Christchurch such works have traditionally changed hands at auction. The Brooke/Gifford Gallery's decision to mount a sale exhibition of works by Petrus van der Velden (1837-1913) comes then as something of an innovation to this city.
The last sale exhibition of Van der Velden's work held in New Zealand was in 1921 (in 1922 the Anthony Horden Gallery, Sydney organised such an exhibition from the residue of Australian works). It was the second of the estate dispersal sales organised by the artist's younger son, Gerrit, on behalf of the Public Trust. An earlier sale had taken place in 1914 but the decision to offer the remainder of the estate - some 477 works were catalogued but several more were sold uncatalogued - was held until after peace in Europe.
The difference in quantity between the 1921 exhibition held in the C.S.A.'s old Durham Street gallery, and the Brooke/Gifford Gallery's 1976 offering of 22 works, was only paralleled by the differences in prices realised. As far as I can establish the top price in 1921 was £150 (most were a good deal cheaper), this year it was $17,000.
The exhibition, which was planned in association with Peter Webb Galleries Auckland and a Christchurch collector, included works from as early as the Marken series of the 1870s and as late as his Wellington period (1904-12 incl.). Two major paintings, Marken Funeral Procession and Mount Rolleston (reproduced Art New Zealand No.1, pp. 23 & 22 respectively) formed the nucleus about which the rest of the collection of water-colours, small oils, sketches and drawings was formed.
Although this was a limited selection of the artist's work, it did include pieces representative of most aspects of his work. Judging by the response the exhibition was successful, continuing the present escalation of Van der Velden prices. A national touring exhibition organised by the Auckland City Art Gallery with the assistance of the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council, opening in Auckland in December, will afford the New Zealand public an opportunity to see a balanced selection of Van der Velden's painting and drawing.
Originally published in Art New Zealand 2 October/November 1976