PROVENANCE Private Collection, Auckland

ILLUSTRATED p. 134, p. 267 C F Goldie His Life & Painting, Alister Taylor & Jan Glen, Alister Taylor publishing, 1977

REFERENCE p. 183 & 186, GOLDIE, Roger Blackley, Auckland, Art Gallery, 1997. Note: Goldie refers to this work as 'Memories' Pipihaerehuka in his own correspondence to James Cowan 1935

Goldie's later career evolved independently of the Auckland art world. Encouraged by Governor General, Lord Bledisloe, Goldie resumed painting around 1930, and embarked on the final body of work in his career. This distinctive period was marked by a warmer palette, looser brush and thinner paint application. He re-presented models he had first depicted decades earlier, with titles echoing earlier examples.

The subject Pipi Haerehuka was Chieftainess of Ngatitunuhopu hapu of the Arawa tribe. She was a direct descendant of Tamati Kapu, captain of one of the canoes that arrived c.1350 and the daughter of Haerehuka, the Ngati Whakaue Chief.

Goldie first painted Pipi Haerehuka in 1915 and again in 1919. A favoured subject, he continued to paint her after her death in 1927. On the recommendation of his benefactor, Goldie sent three paintings to London for the 1934 exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts.

These included: Memories Tearara, A Chieftainess of the Arawa Tribe, Rotorua, New Zealand, the present lot, Thoughts of a Tohunga: Wharekauri Tahuna and An Aristocrat, Atama Paparangi.

All three were selected, very well hung and much commented on, among the 1,600 paintings by artists from the Commonwealth. Placing high prices on his works, in order to maintain prestige, two of Goldie's 1934 oils for the Royal Academy Exhibition: Thoughts of a Tohunga sold for £420. An Aristocrat was sold to Lady Bledisloe for the nominal sum of 100 guineas before it left New Zealand.

The present lot sold to a Miss H W Carnelly for the sum of £262 12d at the Academy Exhibition. These publically celebrated works were duly reported in the local press. In 1935 Goldie was awarded an OBE and the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal.

In Polynesian portraiture Mr C F Goldie stands pre-eminent in the world today, and New Zealand has every reason to be proud of him.

Governor General Lord Bledisloe

EXHIBITED London, Royal Academy 1934 - purchased for £262 12d