In the past seven months, the team at the Sarjeant Gallery have inventoried and packed over 6000 artworks as part of the relocation to 38 Taupo Quay.
Of the many items, one that caught my attention was a series of five studies on canvas of a red fox painted by Violet Emily Whiteman (nee Sells).
What struck me was how the artist had taken an animal associated with the wild and presented it with such obvious affection. The creature's restful posture, the nondescript background, and Violet's careful observation of its features and expressions all contribute towards a sense of intimacy.
Research provided the explanation - this was a painting of a beloved member of the Whiteman family named Teddy Fox. The painting of Teddy is one of many animal portraits that Violet created. Born in 1873 in England, Violet developed a love of animals at an early age. Among her childhood companions were ponies, dogs, and later horses, which she began to paint and draw.
Violet married William Whiteman and the couple moved to a stud farm in Herefordshire known as The Hyde. The property was also home to a variety of animals including a vixen called Teddy. Photographs show Teddy in the garden with the dogs. A close relationship with Violet is also indicated with several pictures showing the artist holding Teddy in her arms.