Petrus van der Velden
Dutch, b.1837, d.1913
Mountain Stream, Otira Gorge 1893
At the time of his first visit to Otira Gorge, van der Velden became consumed – almost obsessed – by the single subject of a mountain stream. He painted this motif no less than eleven times between 1891 and 1893, exploring multiple variations in the flow of water, rocks,
skyline, forest and tones. His constant representations of the subject find a direct parallel with the Victorian art theorist John Ruskin’s view that, for painters, water is ‘the best emblem of unwearied, unconquerable power
… it is like trying to paint a soul.’
(Van der Velden: Otira, February 2003)
Christchurch Art Gallery Trust Collection
Oil on canvas
L85/82
1893
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Related Multimedia
Van der Velden: Otira - Introduction
Read the introductory didactic for the Van der Velden: Otira exhibition
Petrus van der Velden - Mountain stream, Otira Gorge
The Collection Infosheets provide detailed information on a number of artworks held in the Gallery collection. Written between 2001 and ...
View other works by Petrus van der Velden This work featured in the set The official top selling shop gallery cards on My Gallery.
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