Beatrix Bolton

Gottfried Lindauer’s portrait of Beatrix Bolton is one of his most captivating Pākehā portraits. Aged about ten, Beatrix’s striking auburn hair brilliantly contrasts with her royal blue velvet dress and offsets her creamy complexion. Born in 1895, she was the seventh daughter and ninth child of Samuel and Mary Bolton, residents of Woodville. Her father was himself the subject of at least three portraits by Lindauer. Beatrix married Oscar Druce at Mangatainoka in February 1916. They were to have two sons Anthony (known as Tony) and David, and the couple worked the family farm at Kumeroa, 14km from Woodville. Beatrix died in September 1937, in her early forties.

The portrait is the first example of Lindauer’s ‘bromide’ painting process to enter the Gallery’s collection. This is the term he used for paintings which are technically oil portraits on a photographic base, effectively large scale, very high-quality painted photographs. Sarah Hillary and Jane Davidson-Ladd explain ‘The black and white photographic image that is the basis for the portrait was printed onto paper and is effectively the equivalent of an under-drawing and can be referred as an “under-photograph” as it serves the same purpose. The grey tones of the under-photograph are visible through the paint in parts of the facial features.’

Lindauer was open about his usage of this process, in fact advertising his services in newspapers. He also charged half the price of his conventional paintings for them. Most of these bromide portraits are of Pākehā subjects, and frequently people associated with the regions around Lindauer’s home in Woodville. The earliest examples found date from the mid-1890s, but he may have used the process earlier. We are continuing to research Lindauer’s use of this process, if you have a portrait, we would love to hear from you. Please contact: curator@aucklandartgallery.com

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