Portrait of 90 year old picture framer

Frank Mitchell

I copied this painting from the original C.F Goldie painting in the NZ National Gallery (now Te Papa). Some people believe that the original picture was painted by Maude Burge. I am convinced it was painted by C.F Goldie.

Te Onewhero Takurua (nee Tamarau) , also known as Tangi Tamarau or Tangi Ariki (high born) showing off her earrings that I had just given her. She was chieftainess of all the Tuhoe people.

The Flax is just suggested in this painting, which she grew all around her house in Kutarere (which is now  a marae). She regularly used this flax for her weaving. 

I still have a mat and basket (kete) that she wove for me.

Mrs Natana was a very old Tuhoe Kuia. I met her in her families home in Ruatahuna. 

I remember as being a very gentle, quiet lady.

I met Mrs Rutene, who was blind , living with her family in Ruatoki. I captured this Tuhoe elder at a time when she was laughing at me.

Tangi Tamarau was well known as an expert weaver of flax (harakeke). She made the hat she is wearing. Tangi and I became very close over the years and I was honoured by her calling me her "pakeha mokopuna".

This unfinished painting is of the well known New Zealand artist Victor Mitchell, who was the brother of Frank Mitchell. This painting is being done from a black and white photograph that was taken not long before he died. This style of painting was chosen because Victor was a fan of Rembrandt.

This oil sketch painted in 1973 shows an early Rembrandt influence. It shows the injured eye that was removed about 25 years after this painting.