PROVENANCE
Private Collection, Auckland
International Art Centre, Contemporary & Traditional New Zealand & European Art, Auckland, 16/10/1998
Dunbar Sloane, New Zealand, Australian & European Paintings, 29/09/1999

Lyttelton Harbour features Mount Herbert and Lyttelton Harbour painted from Sugarloaf Hill above Lyttelton. The wharves and township are seen at the bottom, centre. Mount Herbert dominates the view with a horizon line of open sea seen above Gebbie's Pass, top right. This work, with its bold, confidentially placed brushstrokes embodies the stylistic qualities which led to Woollaston being lauded as the Cezanne of the Pacific.

The verso study appears to be an almost finished work, featuring Pah Hill beneath a full moon. Dark gum trees flank the foot of the hill, a re-occurring theme in Woollaston's work during the time he lived in Riwaka, opposite Pah Hill.

Our thanks to artist's son Philip Woollaston for his assistance in cataloguing this lot.