SCHMIDT, Armin Alfred 1886–1957

Born Auckland, son of J. D. Schmidt. Educated Auckland Grammar School. Studied with C. F. Goldie for three years when his studio was in Shortland Street, Auckland, alongside studio of L. J. Steele. Fellow pupils were Frederick Porter and E. Spencer Macky: the three men met again as art students years later in Paris. Schmidt only visited Paris but went in 1905 to Munich and after a year preparing himself was accepted as student at the Royal Bavarian Academy to study under Carl von Marr: was awarded an Honourable Mention for each of his last two years and then was admitted to the select Composition School, a fellow student being the art historian R. M. Wilenski. Returned to Auckland 1909 and had a studio in one of the Artists Flats in Palmerston Buildings, Queen Street, and took pupils. Exhibited with ASA and in 1910 held an exhibition of his work. Unfortunately much of his work was lost when the building was destroyed by fire.