An opportunity to see in a public place, the paintings which usually hang in Government House or are privately owned paintings of historic importance to New Zealand.
Government House in Wellington is the home of a remarkable collection of portraits. To a very few of us they will be familiar friends. Many other New Zealanders will have seen at least some of them, but most will have had only the briefest opportunity to examine and savour them. When the New Zealand Portrait Gallery became aware that they were to go into storage during the restoration of Government House, we offered to show them here at Shed 11. We were delighted and honoured that His Excellency the Governor General, our Patron graciously accepted our offer, giving us the privilege of displaying them to a wider public.
The 'Norrie Collection', Sir Willoughby and Lady Norrie's gift to the nation most of it displayed in the formal Dining Room, is a principal treasure at Government House, and is at the heart of this exhibition. But their generosity extended further and we are grateful to those other recipients who have agreed to the works they gave them being included in this exhibition.
Oddly one may think it has not been the practice for our Governors and Governors-General to have their portraits painted. Instead they have been photographed and the photographs, normally displayed in the hallway at Government House, are another feature of this exhibition, for both their historic and photographic interest.
In contrast with their formality there is a collection of sometimes irreverent caricature and cartoons usually housed in the entrance to the Ballroom.
Perhaps there is some gentle irony in that we are viewing many of these portraits at a time when it is becoming increasingly less important to dwell on their provenance as images of England and Empire become less relevant to an increasingly independent country. Yet they will serve us well. They remind us not only of the history and traditions so many of us have inherited, but also of a social climate that was so rich in artistic practice, and given the realistic and detailed workmanship of the portraits of the time they provide us with first rate historical evidence.
Many of today's portraitists would doubtless claim inspiration for their own artistic prowess from a line however long and however re-worked along the way, going back to , and beyond, Holbein or Van Dyck and others whose work is shown here.
The New Zealand Portrait Gallery expresses its great appreciation not only to His excellency, but also to the staff at Government House and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet for their willing assistance in mounting this exhibition, and as always to the Wellington City Council and Wellington Waterfront Ltd for our continuing use of Shed 11, so obviously a truly splendid and unique gallery space.
LORD NORRIE Lieutenant General Sir (Charles) Willoughby Moke Norrie
was Governor General of New Zealand from 1952 - 1957. Shortly after his departure from New Zealand he was created the 1st Baron Norrie of Wellington, New Zealand and of County Gloucestor in the peerage of the United Kingdom.
Norrie was born in London in 1893, educated at Eton and graduated from the Royal Military College at Sandhurst. In 1913 he joined the 11th Hussars. During the Great War (1914 - 1918) he was wounded four times, mentioned in despatches twice, awarded the Millitary Cross (1915) and Bar (1916) and appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (1919).
Following the war he continued with a successful career in the British Army and in 1940 following the outbreak of war became General Officer commanding the 1st Armoured Division and later the 30th Corps in North Africa and the Middle East. During this period he worked closely alongside General Bernard Freyberg the General Officer commanding the New Zealand Forces.
In 1944 Lord Norrie resigned from active service and was appointed Governor of South Australia. In 1952 he was appointed Governor General of New Zealand.
In New Zealand the Norries took an interest in a wide range of community organisations, the arts and the thorougbred racing industry.
The British royal portraits that have been gathered for this exhibition were donated to Government House and various municipal private collections by Lord and Lady Norrie in 1957. In Norrie's words this gift was 'a small token of gratitude for our happiness in four and a half years in New Zealand.'