GULLY, JOHN (1819-1888)

"Anatoki, 10AM, Jan 4 1885" (1885)
watercolour & bodycolour
15.5 x 32.5cm
signed lower left
*private collection, Sydney
 
Gully was largely self-taught, though he did take a few private lessons. After reading Hursthouse’s ‘Account of the Settlement of New Plymouth’, Gully emigrated to New Zealand with his wife and three children in 1852.  He originally settled on a small block of land in Omata, Taranaki, working in various jobs including farming and clerical work. During this time he advertised as a painter of ‘views’ of properties to send back to England. He eventually ended up bankrupt and so took some art pupils. In 1860 driven out by the land wars of Taranaki Gully moved with his family to Nelson. He was appointed part-time art master at Nelson College, though because he was self-taught and not schooled in the classical style, he was not popular with the principal. Gully sold the watercolours he submitted to the 1865 Otago Exhibition before it even opened, and when it did open, he gained a silver medal.  Gully’s large watercolours became immensely popular at the Art Society shows, even if some were based on sketches by other artists, or on photographs. he also exhibited at the Royal Academy in London. A major colonial painter in early New Zealand, his works are represented in all major galleries in New Zealand!!