HERBERT E ROGERS: New Zealand watercolour artist & where to view his work

Artist Herbert E. Rogers was educated in London at the Kensington School of Art and the Slade School of Art. But he is now best admired and remembered for his superb watercolours capturing the beauty of the New Zealand landscape. The artist first arrived in New Zealand in September 1910 when he was already described by the local media as a landscape and “black and white” artist. He set up a studio at Tauranga in North Island where he also offered tuition to aspiring local artists in elementary drawing, black and white illustrating, still life and landscape painting.

It is believed that the artist fairly soon decided to settle in New Zealand as evidenced by the dates of his many subsequent watercolours which range from the early 1920s to as late as 1942.

There is now an increasing awareness that Herbert E. Rogers’ watercolours represent an important part of New Zealand’s artistic heritage. This means that his work is now being rediscovered and reassessed, with collectors competing strongly on price for the few examples of his work that come on to the open market.

There are seven examples of the artist’s work listed in the Australian Art Sales Digest, with subjects including the Coromandel coast and other coastal landscapes and views of Lake Taupo. There is also a fine example of the artist’s work at the Waikato Museum depicting the Coromandel harbour and township.

The Bright-Life Gallery in New Zealand is now probably the leading gallery handling the artist’s work. The artist died on October 29th 1945.

From New Zealand Herald: October 30th 1945.

OBITUARY: Mr. Herbert E. Rogers

A veteran Auckland artist, Mr. Herbert E. Rogers, of Kikowhakarere Bay, Coromandel, died suddenly at his home yesterday. Mr Rogers had led a varied and at times adventurous life. Born in Devonshire, he studied art at the Slade School and later came to New Zealand. After running sheep on native lands in the Taupo district, he joined the Royal Navy in a temporary capacity and went to China, where he was appointed to the British consular police at the time of the Boxer rising. Having been badly injured by a Chinese mob, he was invalided out and spent some time on ranches in the Western United States. He then returned to New Zealand and was employed on survey work by the Government and local authorities until his retirement about 15 years ago. Mr Rogers for a long time was a member of the Auckland Society of Arts. He was a prolific painter in water colour of scenes on the Coromandel coast, and persistently advocated measures to preserve the natural beauties of the region. He is survived by his wife and an adult family of three sons and three daughters.

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