Henry Smith, at the Hawke's Bay A & P show in 1891, exhibited several paintings by Gottfried, suggesting more than one painting had been done for him.
The exhibited paintings were said to be of "great merit and was warmly praised by visitors."
Gottfried Lindauer was born in Pilsen, Czech Republic in 1839, the third of six children born to Ignatius and Mary Lindauer.
Ignatius was a caretaker, and young Gottfried was his father's apprentice for three years.
During this time, Gottfried's artistic talent was noticed from the many drawings he did.
He would pursue his art, which according to his memoirs, was not originally in his destiny – he intended on gardening or watchmaking as his vocation
Gottfried took up residence in 1855 in Vienna (walking 423km from Pilsen to do so) at the Academy of Fine Arts in the studio of two exponents of religious paintings.
The first documented, signed and dated (1861) painting from him was of Cain and Abel. Many religious themes followed and are illustrated in Kevin and Joan's book.
He returned to Pilsen in 1870 and established a studio, where he painted portraits of some of the wealthy inhabitants.
While attending the World Exhibition in Vienna in 1873, Gottfried became aware of New Zealand, and Maori culture.
This appeared the catalyst for him to travel to New Zealand aboard the Reichstag from Hamburg in 1874, arriving in Wellington.
He headed to Nelson, apparently due to the large German settlements in the area and would set up a studio there.
His stay in Nelson was short-lived and for the next 15 years he travelled around New Zealand, painting portraits, and at times was supported by patrons, such as Henry Partridge and Sir Walter Buller, who purchased multiple works by Gottfried.
Gottfried would establish a studio in Napier in Church Lane and live on the premises.
He would marry in 1885 for the second time in Napier.
He became good friends with Napier photographer (and future mayor) Samuel Carnell, who sponsored him for his citizenship.
Gottfried did paint from some photographs as some of his subjects were deceased or not present.
Although it appears that he was a prolific portrait painter of Maori, his European works outnumbered these, and many have been uncovered in the book.
Before he settled in Woodville in 1890, where he established a studio, Gottfried had lived in Wellington, Nelson, Auckland, Thames, Christchurch, Marton, Wanganui, Masterton and Napier.
Featured in the book are as many of Gottfried Lindauer's New Zealand paintings as the authors could find – some 127 of them, including many from Hawke's Bay, such as Samuel Carnell, William Colenso and Airini Donnelly.
Most, however, are from private collections, and as such, unseen in public.
He painted the first six Hastings mayors from 1892 to 1909, and they are all featured.
Kevin and Joan provide biographical or other material about each painting in the book, bringing them alive.
The book is the result of 18 years' research, which has not only taken them around New Zealand photographing and researching the paintings, but also overseas to the Czech Republic ‒ the place of Lindauer's birth.
This book, like Gottfried Lindauer's portraits, is a masterpiece, and one I am very proud to own.
It is only a small print run, and I expect this book will sell out quickly. There are 260 pages, 180 of them in colour.
For information on purchasing this book, which is available only from the authors, email kj.mcintyre@xtra.co.nz
*I am taking pre-orders for my Historic Hawke's Bay book due out in late November, which is a collection of my best HB Today articles from 2016-2018, with additional photos and story material. The book has 160 pages with 26 in colour. Cheque to Michael Fowler Publishing of $59.90 to PO Box 8947, Havelock North. Includes free delivery in Hawke's Bay. Please state if you want it signed. It will not be available in bookshops as it is a small print run.
*Michael Fowler FCA (mfhistory@gmail.com) is a chartered accountant and contract researcher and writer of Hawke's Bay's history.
