B.

Margaret Stoddart: born Diamond Harbour 3 October, 1865.

Behind the scenes

While the Gallery remains closed to the public the permanent collection continues to grow with several generous gifts and bequests being received recently.

One of my favourites is this stunning watercolour of New Brighton beach from the sand dunes by Margaret Stoddart, presented by William Reece of Warkworth in 2011. The Gallery holds a large collection of works by Stoddart, who is arguably Canterbury's favourite watercolourist. From the artist's mature period after studying in Europe in the early twentieth century, this work highlights her absolute mastery of the watercolour medium. The deft, quickly painted brush stokes in the foreground convey the hardy succulents and tussocks that grow on the dunes with some picked out with opaque white. The overcast conditions, often caused by Christchurch's notorious easterly winds, illustrate that Stoddart was equally as interested in the atmospheric effects of cloudy, overcast skies as she was in the bright sunny conditions for which she is better known.

Margaret Stoddart New Brighton. Watercolour. Collection of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, gifted by William Ainslie Reece 2011

Margaret Stoddart New Brighton. Watercolour. Collection of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, gifted by William Ainslie Reece 2011