A rare art piece from renowned Kiwi artist Charles Frederick Goldie will head to auction this week, with expectations it could fetch up to $2.5 million - a record for a New Zealand painting.
But the descendants of the subject in the portrait are upset, saying if they'd been given more time, they would have raised funds to purchase the painting.
The portrait by Goldie of Kamariera Te Hau Takiri Wharepapa was one of the artist's favourite paintings - it had pride of place in his studio.
And now the descendants of Wharepapa have had a special viewing ahead of this Tuesday's virtual auction. Director of the International Art Centre, Richard Thomson, says it’s on the auction market for the first time so it's the first time everyone has seen it.
When Charles Goldie died in 1947, his wife Olive sold the painting to Auckland's Jonas family. It remained in their private collection all these years but now it’s up for grabs - and the subject's descendants wish they had a chance to buy it.
"I feel saddened that this photo is being auctioned. It is a taonga," said Wharepapa’s great-granddaughter Rongoaumihi Curry.
"With these pieces that are often held in private collections, there's always going to be descendants and hapū that will just love to own them," added Curry’s granddaughter and Wharepapa's third-great-granddaughter Aria Clapperton.
The painting is one of only four known oil portraits of Wharepapa. Two are in the collection of the Auckland Museum, the third in a private collection. The Goldie version is rare, because of its larger size.
"There's so much connection and there's so much history and it all adds value, obviously, to a painting - and the provenance is impeccable," Thomson says.
Born in 1823 in Mangakāhia, Hokianga, Wharepapa was a respected Ngāpuhi chief and accomplished orator.
He was one of fourteen Māori who travelled to England by Ida Ziegler ship, met Queen Victoria, then returned home to NZ with his new wife, English housemaid Elizabeth Reid.
Goldie's oil painting captured Wharepapa in his late eighties.
"This one's getting up there in price and whether they can come up with the money - it would be nice to see that happen - but it will also be lovely to see Te Papa or someone to buy it for the nation to see and to enjoy," said Thomson.
"It's beautiful, it's a masterpiece that we've been able to lay our eyes on and treasure," said Clapperton.
And, because the painting has heritage status, keeping it on New Zealand soil is almost guaranteed. Just like the real Rangatira Wharepapa, his portrait has returned from its journey to Britain and is home again, hopefully to stay.
The auction will be held Tuesday, April 5 at 6pm. For more information go to www.internationalartcentre.co.nz.
This article is part of Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.
