Angels & Aristocrats - Early European Art in New Zealand Public Collections

‘A superlative narrative of the history of European art on public display in New Zealand and the precursor to a major touring exhibition in 2011’

During New Zealand’s early colonial history a strong desire emerged for public collections of European art that imitated the grand collections of Great Britain and Europe. Today, galleries in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Whanganui boast collections in this area.

A sumptuous hardback Angels & Aristocrats celebrates the past, present and future of these collections, while exploring the stories behind these works of art.
Each of the 400 pages of Angels & Aristocrats is meticulously researched, written and lavishly illustrated. The book begins by giving a brief overview of the inherent struggles in setting up public collections from both an institutional and individual viewpoint. None of these would exist today without the generosity and foresight of individual benefactors who gave, and continue to give, works of art to our public institutions.

Chapters are organised into four major themes: the function of religious images; landscape; genre and still life; and finally, portraiture. It concludes with brief statements by a number of contemporary New Zealand artists who themselves have gained inspiration from European works in our ‘national collection’. Those artworks not discussed in the four main chapters are illustrated in a section titled ‘Further Works’.

The richness of these sleeping beauties in our collections has often gone unrecognised. The intention of Kisler’s richly illustrated book, alongside an exhibition of selected works that will travel the nation in 2011, is to ‘restore’ them to their rightful place, as an important part of our cultural history.

About the author:
Mary Kisler is the Mackelvie Curator, International Art at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki. As well as caring for a collection ranging from the 12th century to the mid-20th century, she has curated a wide variety of collection and touring exhibitions. A highly respected art historian and curator, she is a regular guest on Kim Hill’s Saturday Morning show on Radio New Zealand National.
Her book is published 15 October.