The portraits of Frances Hodgkins

One of New Zealand’s early art rock stars is undoubtedly Frances Hodgkins, the Dunedin born painter who fled New Zealand in the early 20th century, never really to return. Her paintings are held in collections around the world and when you think of them you generally think landscapes or still life, in those earthy, glowing watercolours.

But the little known fact is that she was also a portrait painter, and the New Zealand Portrait Gallery has put together an exhibition that they've called Frances Hodgkins' People, curated by Pamela Gerrish Nunn.

Pamela is a world renowned expert on female artists, who came to New Zealand from Britain to join the University of Canterbury in 1989.

Frances Hodgkins - “La Premiere Communion” 1910 -11, watercolour, Woodford House Collection.

Frances Hodgkins - May Kenyon 1896, watercolour, private collection Auckland.

Frances Hodgkins - Mother and Child (Le Ballon) 1906, watercolour, Fletcher Trust Collection.

Frances Hodgkins - Painting Class on the beach 1920, watercolour, private collection Wellington.

'Frances Hodgkins' People' curator Pamela Gerrish Nunn.

The images in this gallery are used with permission and are subject to copyright conditions.