The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]
Artists and Photographers
Artists and Photographers.
Bartlett, Wiliam Henry, Art Photographer, Queen Street, Auckland. Branches: Whangarei and Dargaville, Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand. Mr. Bartlett's business is carried on is a fine three-storey brick building, situated in one of the busiest parts of Queen Street. The premises have been fitted up on the most complete scale, and in the vestibule on the ground floor—one of the finest in the city— specimens of Mr Bartlett's artistic work are exhibited in handsome show cases. Mr. Bartlett makes a specialty of enlarged portraits in oils, etc., and the artistic merits of his specimens attract hundreds of visitors. The office, reception rooms, dressing rooms, and photographic gallery are situated on the second floor. No expense has been spared in funishing the reception rooms. The gallery covers a floorage space of about 1000 square feet, and great attention has been paid to the lighting, which is regulated by a special system of blinds. All the accessories are quite up to date. The third floor contains three large rooms, which are used for printing, enlarging, and finishing. Six hands are employed, and three artists are engaged in executing oil paintings, in which a large business is done. The whole of the work is under the personal supervision of Mr. Bartlett, who carried off the Special Gold Medal for portraiture at the Auckland Exhibition in March, 1895. Enlargements can be framed on the premises, and Mr. Bartlett has an endless variety of mouldings, imported direct from the manufacturers. Mr. Bartlett was born in Auckland, in 1870. He was educated at the Auckland Grammar school, and had many years of experience at his business before establishing himself. Mr. Bartlett takes great interest in musical matters, and he is a Freemason and member of the West End Rowing Club. The Whangarei branch of his business is under the management of Mr. Bayne, who is well and favourably known throughout the district.
Mr. J. R. Hanna.
Morton, John Carnduff, Photographer, the Balmoral Studio, Karangahape Road, Auckland. Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand. Mr. Morton is a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, and was brought up to the business of manufacturing photographic apparatus. He studied the art of photography in order to gain full technical knowledge, and was in business near Edinburgh for twelve months before leaving for New Zealand. He arrived in the colony by the s.s. “Orient,” via Melbourne, in 1881, and for two years was assistant to Mr. Morris in Dunedin. For seven years subsequently he was manager and operator for Mr. Josiah Martin in Auckland. The present business has been successfully carried on by Mr. Morton since 1891. His premises are three stories in height, and are built in brick, with cement facings. The ground floor has a large and commedious showroom, with a large room at the back, and the first floor upstairs contains a beautifully-lighted studio, 40 feet by 20 feet. There are also three well-appointed dressing-rooms. There is a complete suite of lofty, airy, and well-lighted workrooms on the top floor. Mr Morton makes a specialty of enlargements in bromide and on opal; he was, in fact, one of the first to do this class of work in Dunedin. He has erected a branch studio at his private residence, Glenmore House, New North Road, specially fitted for bridal parties.
The Arrival of the Maoris. (Photographed from the original painting, and reproduced by special permission of the artists, Messrs Goldie and Steele).
Steele, Louis John, Artist, Auckland. Mr. Steele was born at Reigate, Surrey, England, in 1842. His father, Dr. John Sesson Steele, was a man of eminence in his profession, and was one of the Governors of the Medical College at Epsom. Mr. Steele was educated at Reigate Grammar School, and studied painting at the Royal Academy. Through the advice of his cousin, W. Haussoullier, an eminent French artist, he entered the Beaux Arts at Paris, and studied for some years. In 1867 he entered the Royal Academy at Florence, and after his return to England he made a name for himself in the art of etching. His etching of “Napoleon on the Bellerophon” received great praise, and was the largest etching done up to that time. On his arrival in Auckland, Mr. Steele took a foremost position in his profession, and his pictures, when exhibited, received great praise from art critics. That notable work, “The Arrival of the Maoris,” was produced by Mr. Steele in collaboration with Mr. Goldie, and now adorns the walls of the Auckland Art Gallery.
Ml. F. Wright.