BLOMFIELD, William (“Blo”) 1866–1938

Born in Auckland, eldest son of Samuel Blomfield, nephew of artist Charles Blomfield. Drew caricatures while still at school, then while nominally at school took a job with a stockbroker. On leaving school worked in the art department of a paint shop. In 1886 ‘Blo’ was artist for the New Zealand Herald and after the Tarawera eruption was straightaway sent to view the results of the eruption and make sketches. Was first with the news that the famous Pink and White Terraces had disappeared. Trained as a lithographic draughtsman and worked from 1888 as a cartoonist for New Zealand Observer. Work included in Centennial Ex 1940. Represented in Turnbull.