condensed discuss document expanded export feedback print share remove reset document_white enquire_white export_white report_white

Collections Online

Collections record

discuss document export feedback print share gallery-landscape xml

Viper

documentary heritage
  • Description

    Watercolour sketch on a plain background of a brown and red-brown striped snake. Identified on the drawing as a viper.

  • Other Id

    732 (Presto content ID)

    PD-1979-4-66 (Reference Number)

    79/4 (accession number)

    PD471 (Legacy number)

  • Department

    Art

Images and documents

Images

Catalogue

  • Object Type

    artwork

  • Name/Title
    Viper
  • Primary Maker

     John Webster (Artist)

  • Physical Description

    124 mm. x 152 mm.

  • Collection
    John Webster
  • Level of Current Record
    Child
  • Related Object Notes
    PD 43 (1-17), (18-120)
  • Is Part Of

    Untitled

  • Media/Materials
    Watercolour on card
  • Subject Category

    Snakes

    Reptiles

  • Provenance Details
    Provenance has been difficult to trace. As far as can be ascertained, provenances of various items within the collection (from descendants of John Webster) are as follows:
    Items (1-8), (13), (17), provenance unknown but could be the 1929 donation mentioned in the Museum annual report.
    Items (9), (31-34), donated by Mrs Wilcox. 1960.
    Items (18-25), (27-30), (35), (37-45), (48), donated by Mrs Leigh-McKenzie and Miss Jean Webster. 1962.
    Items (10-12), (36), purchased from Mrs George Lockwood. 1964.
    Items (14-16), purchased from Mrs E.R.St. Julian. 1965.
    Items (26), (46-47), (54), purchased from Mrs George Lockwood. 1966.
    Items (49-50), purchased from Mrs F.D. Silvester. 1966.
    Item (51), purchased from Mrs D.M. Macbeachan. 1967.
    Items (52-53), purchased from Mrs B.A. Carr. 1968.
    Items (55-120) donated by Mrs Marie Ingham. Milford. April 1979.
  • Public Access Text

    PD 43 (1-17) and possibly (36) are by George French Angas, based on the originals by John Webster. Webster may have commissioned Angas to rework his originals and six were reproduced in a special limited edition of six copies of Webster's book "The last cruise of the Wanderer", one copy of which was presented to Sir George Grey, now in the Auckland Public Library collection.

    The Webster collection have been acquired by the Museum over a number of years and from different sources. (see provenance note). The original numbering sequence adopted by the Library in accessioning and cataloguing these works have been retained whenever practicable, but some numbers have been re-arranged to accommodate and differentiate the Angas works from those by Webster.(ie PD 43 (1-17) are by Angas; PD 43 (18-120) are by Webster).

  • Copyright
    No known copyright restrictions
  • Credit Line
    Donated by Mrs Marie Ingham, Milford, April 1979
  • Last Update
    06 Dec 2022

Related items

Similar items

  • Viper
  • Dick Black and snake.
  • ? from Gaza?

Results from DigitalNZ

Related objects

    The development of the Auckland War Memorial Museum online collection is an ongoing process; updates, new images and records are added weekly. In some cases, records have yet to be confirmed by Museum staff, and there could be mistakes or omissions in the information provided.

    The gift of curiosity

    With unlimited free entry to all paid exhibitions, discounted event tickets and exclusive Member-only events, a Museum Membership is the gift that keeps on giving year-round.

    SEE OPTIONS FROM $60

    The gift of curiosity