26 Jun 2013

Portrait of chief is signature piece of exhibition

6:35 am on 26 June 2013

A portrait of a 19th century Te Atiawa chief Wi Tako Ngatata is on public display for the first time.

Chief Wi Tako Ngatata, circa 1858-1861, oil on canvas.

Chief Wi Tako Ngatata, circa 1858-1861, oil on canvas. Photo: Collection Moutere Love Family Trust

It's one of 30 portraits by the early painter William Beetham at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery in Wellington, which have not hung together since they were painted more than 125 years ago.

Curator Jane Vial said most pieces have been held by iwi or in family collections.

She said Beetham did not sign or date his art - and it was just three months ago that she saw Wi Tako's portrait in a book, and immediately knew it was by him.

It is the exhibition's signature piece - with Wi Tako dressed in European clothing, but the shirt is cut away to clearly show his moko.

Ms Vial said Beetham was also commissioned by Tamehana Te Rauparaha to paint a posthumous portrait of his father.

The exhibition will open to the public on Thursday.