Portrait of D.K. Richmond

At the turn of the twentieth century, New Zealand artist Dorothy Kate Richmond (1861-1935) spent several years painting in Europe. During her travels, along with fellow artist Frances Hodgkins (1869-1947), Richmond spent much time in the orbit of Norman Garstin (1847-1926), the Irish painter and leading figure of the Cornish Newlyn School. Richmond and Hodgkins joined several of Garstin’s sketching classes across Europe, and both spent time in Penzance, Cornwall, where Garstin based his studio. Writing home in 1901, just a month after their first meeting, Hodgkins reveals the women’s early affection for their new mentor, stating, ‘Miss Richmond and myself…both agree we have met our ideal artist & man at last.’(1)
 
This affinity goes some way to explaining Hodgkin’s palpable enthusiasm when she writes to Richmond some months later, in March 1903, about the prospect of Garstin painting Richmond’s portrait. ‘I am so excited at the idea of the Prof. painting you,’ she exclaims, ‘how & where & in what costume – red shawl over shoulders I hope. Do tell me all about it – I am sure it will be charming.’(2) The portrait in question – albeit without the red shawl Hodgkins envisaged – could well be Garstin’s 1903 Portrait of D. K. Richmond in Te Papa’s collection.

Certainly, Garstin’s Portrait of D. K. Richmond reveals a familiarity and ease between portraitist and sitter. Richmond is informally seated, her right elbow resting on the table and her head cradled in her hand. Garstin appears to have captured a moment in time: her index finger holding her place, Richmond looks up from her book, her gaze directed beyond the picture plane. With her eyebrows gently lifted and lips slightly apart, Garstin depicts Richmond’s mind at work, emphasised by the light, coming from the left, that falls on her right cheekbone and temple. Draped over her shoulders, her hefty travelling cloak affirms her status as an artist on the move.

Victoria Munn, June 2025

(1) Letter from Frances Hodgkins to Rachel Hodgkins, 7 August 1901. Alexander Turnbull Library, MS-Papers-0085-10.
(2) Letter from Frances Hodgkins to Dorothy Kate Richmond, 23 March 1903. Alexander Turnbull Library, MS-Papers-0085-14.


Text originally created for Tūrangawaewae: Art and New Zealand exhibition at Te Papa, March 2018.

A New Zealand artist abroad, painted by her Irish tutor.

Dorothy Kate Richmond (1861–1935) took summer sketching classes with Norman Garstin in France, Cornwall, Belgium, and Holland between 1901 and 1903.

She and her travelling companion, the painter Frances Hodgkins, agreed that in Garstin they had met their ‘ideal artist & man at last’. The pair exhibited together in Wellington on their return – but while Hodgkins pursued a career overseas, Richmond remained, becoming a central figure in the local art scene.

He ringatoi nō Aotearoa ki tāwāhi, he mea peita e tana kaiako nō Airani.

I whai wāhi a Dorothy Kate Richmond (1861–1935) ki ngā karaehe huahua a Norman Garstin i Wīwī, i Kāngawāra, i Pēhiamu me Hōrana mai i te tau 1901 ki te tau 1903.

I whakaae rāua ko tana hoa haere, a Frances Hodgkins, ko Garstin te “tino ringatoi me te tino tāne”. I whakaatu tahi rāua i ā rāua mahi ki Pōneke i tā rāua hokinga mai – heoi, nō Hodgkins ka whai oranga ki tāwāhi, ka noho a Richmond hei pou i te hapori toi.