VON TEMPSKY'S PAINTINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20364, 19 September 1929, Page 14

VON TEMPSKY'S PAINTINGS.

Sir, —In your issue of September' 13 you mention a water-colour painting " attributed" to Major von Tempsky. I think it exceedingly probable that the painting is authentically attributed to the Major. I knew Major von Tempsky fairly intimately when ho was stationed at Cam- . bridge with his company of Forest Rangers in 1864-65. His camp was pitched on the top terrace at the back of our home in Cambridge on the site now occupied by Mrs. Charles Chittyf My mother, Mrs. Wilson, wife of Major Thomas Wilson, of the 3rd Waikato Regiment, had a taste in common with Major von Tempsky for -water-colour painting, and I remember he often brought his work for my mother's inspection and criticism, notably a painting of Cambridge as it appeared from his camp with our homfe -(raupo whare), in the foreground. • On its completion Major von Tempsky had it photographed and gave a copy of the photo- * graph to my mother. Rome years later I had the photograph enlarged'and I gave a, copy to the library at Cambridge*. I should imagine the painting mentioned by you was painted at the same time, and the scene was at Cambridge. I know the Major had plenty of spare time on his hands—only camp duties to perform—during his stay at Cambridge pending the disbandment of his company. C. J. W. Barton,