Artwork Information

Thomas Uchter Caulfield Knox Ranfurly, Lord Northland (New Zealand, 1882-1915) after whom the suburb in Wellington is named, was the son of the Earl of Ranfurly, Governor of New Zealand, from 1897 to 1904. Lord Northland was on a year-long visit to New Zealand in 1903 when he attained his majority, an event that was celebrated with a society ball, held at Auckland’s Government House in June 1903. This three-quarter length portrait was commissioned days later from Charles Frederick Goldie, New Zealand’s pre-eminent portraitist. Lord Northland was reported to be remaining in Auckland in late June specifically to attend sittings with the artist.

The mustachioed Northland is shown standing against a scumbled brown background, positioned slightly obliquely to the viewer and looking outward. Northland wears the ‘undress’ (informal uniform) of an officer of the Coldstream Guards in the British Army, which he had joined in 1900. It comprises a green-black frockcoat made of Melton wool with tassels down the front, corded olivettes (toggles), a high stand black collar, black-braided cuffs with Swiss knot piping and a crimson silk sash. Across his right shoulder are regimental gilded cords or ‘aiguillettes’, ending in gold metal tagged points. In his left hand he grasps the handle of his regimental sword and with his right he holds his regimental dress visor cap, the badge and gilt trim denoting his officer rank in a discreet but visible manner.

The finished portrait was exhibited at the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts at Wellington in late October 1903, where it received lukewarm praise from critics. Although regarded as a reasonable likeness, it was widely thought to make the sitter appear too old. In response to press reports, the sitter’s mother, Lady Ranfurly, invited the painter to Wellington to retouch the portrait. The experience is thought to have discouraged Goldie from future society portrait commissions, and he henceforward concentrated on his much-admired Māori subjects.