Charles Frederick Goldie was one of New Zealand’s most famed artists, whose portraits of Māori are for many the most frequently remembered representation of New Zealand’s tangata whenua (original inhabitants). Goldie trained as an artist in New Zealand and Australia, won prizes for his early work and then travelled to France to advance his studies.
His early portraits were often of Māori clad in traditional dress with memorable traditional moko (tattoo) on their faces. Goldie’s portraits have been praised for the apparently ‘true to life’ quality in their subjects’ appearance. Later in his career he was criticised for exactly that quality. Critics considered them too life-like and too much like his photographic portraits.
Further Reading:
Goldie’s Stop on Purewa’s Heritage Tours
Charles Frederick Goldie
Died 1947
Block E Row 48 Plot 78
