ARTISTS’ RETREAT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20108, 29 March 1928, Page 10

ARTISTS’ RETREAT

“SIGN OF THE PUMPKIN” A FORMER RENDEZVOUS, Full of memories of the past and significant associations is the picturesque —and now, alas, ramshackle—old cottage at Sil verstream, Wellington, which goes by the quaint title of ‘ ‘ Pumpkin Cottage. ” Some years ago this cottage was the rendezvous for artists from all over New Zealand. Here they spent weekends, and here it was that many or the best New Zealand pictures originated and were painted. The cottage was built by James Nairn, the well-known- Scottish artist, who came to New Zealand for his health, and settled in Wellington. He, was arts master at the Technical School in Wellington, and was a very great acquisition to art in New Zealand. Several of his best pictures were painted at this old cottage, which •he bought, the most famous of these being “Tess of the D’Urbcrvilles,” which is at present in the Wellington Art Gallery. His work is now almost unprocurable, and commands high prices.

The cottage stands in about three acres, and outside it is tacked up a sign. “The Sign of the Pumpkin.” In the grounds is an old rose bush, planted by Alias Flora Scales, the wellknown animal painter. After the death of “Jimmy” Nairn, as he was affectionately known to his pupils, the rent of his cottage was paid by a group of New Zealand artists. Unfortunately, in the last few years, the cottage has fallen into disrepair, and there is some talk of it being demolished. Among his pupils Nairn ■numbered Afrs AT. E. R. Tripe and. Lady Alice Fergusson.