Story: Perceptions of the landscape

‘Mountain pass with rider’

‘Mountain pass with rider’

John Gully was the most popular romantic artist of the New Zealand landscape in the late 19th century. This scene, with its high snowy peaks, swirling mist, craggy cliffs and lone rider was not meant to be a realistic portrayal of the Southern Alps – rather, it was intended to stir emotions. Gully’s works helped to invest New Zealand’s alpine regions with a romantic allure.

Using this item

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Reference: B.041110
Watercolour by John Gully

Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Jock Phillips, 'Perceptions of the landscape - A Romantic landscape', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/14397/mountain-pass-with-rider (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by Jock Phillips, published 24 Sep 2007