LINDAUER, GOTTFRIED (1839-1926) was born at Pilsen, in Czecho-Slovakia, and at the age of 16 went to Vienna, where he studied art under Fuehrich and Kuppelwieser. He was there for seven years, and received many commissions for portraits and painting of Biblical subjects for Roman Catholic churches throughout Austria.

Being attracted by reading about New Zealand, he came out in the ship Reichstag in 1873, and commenced painting portraits of prominent Maori chiefs. In 1874 he made the acquaintance of H. E. Partridge, who conceived the idea of forming a collection of Maori portraits and accompanied Lindauer on his visits to native villages. The principal collection was paid for by Partridge, who presented it to the Auckland Art Gallery in 1915. A description of the subjects was published by J. Cowan in 1901, and in 1930 many of them were reproduced and described by the same author. Lindauer made many other portraits of eminent New Zealanders, including Sir Walter Buller. He showed a collection of Maori pictures at the Indian and Colonial Exhibition, from which one was selected by the Prince of Wales (Edward VII). Lindauer died at Woodville on 13 Jun 1926.

Lindauer, op. cit.; Cowan, op. cit. (p); N.Z. Herald, 16 Jun; Evening Star, 15 Jun 1926 (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 266

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