STODDART, Margaret Olrog 1865–1934

Well known Canterbury watercolourist. Born Diamond Harbour, Canterbury, NZ; educated in Edinburgh, then studied at Canterbury School of Art. Exhibited with CSA from 1883, with other New Zealand societies from 1884: won a prize at ASA Ex 1885 for studies of ferns. From 1885 on Council of CSA. Spent much time as a young woman on the family farm on the Chatham Islands. In late 1890s went to England, studied in Cornwall under the American Charles Laszal c.1901–02 and was strongly influenced by the Newlyn School; she travelled to European art centres. Returned to New Zealand about 1907 after being shown at the RA and Paris Salon, taught at the Canterbury School of Art, was on Council of CSA and a leading member of the art community in Christchurch until her death. In 1928 the CSA held an exhibition of her work “Past and Present”. She sometimes paid visits to Motueka where her sister lived and taught. Is best known for her watercolours of flowers, many of them in her favourite blues and whites, and for her watercolours of river beds. Professor Shelley wrote in 1929, “She surprises us anew every year in her strong and biting grip on the essential of things”. Exhibited: NZ and South Seas Ex Dunedin 1889–90; NZ International Ex Chch 1906–07. Work included Centennial Ex Wtn 1940; Canterbury Retrospective 1951. A collection of watercolour studies of native flowers, originally meant for publi- page 227 cation, is in Canterbury Museum. Represented in major New Zealand galleries, Suter; large collection in McDougall.