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DiaporamaThe Phantom Canoe: A Legend of Lake Tarawera
1888
17.0 x 7.0 cm
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
A phantom canoe was sighted on Lake Tarawera just days before the eruption of Mount Tarawera in June 1886. The Māori guides and tourists who witnessed it told of a waka ‘being vigorously paddled’ towards the mountain. Hailed by the guides, the crew gave no response and then vanished. The apparition was seen as a sign of imminent death and disaster.Kennett Watkins’s interpretation, two years after the event, dramatically enriches the narrative. While eyewitness accounts varied in their detail, they all claimed that the event occurred during the day. Watkins turns it into a spectral vision at night, the mountain ominously surrounded by cloud and silhouetted by the moon. A zigzag of lightning cuts through the sky, adding to the sense of danger. The sole witness sits in his canoe in the shadows.See more detail about this artwork
charles henry kennett watkins (1847 – 1933)
Explore the landscapes & Māori culture of New Zealand through the evocative paintings of Charles Henry Kennett Watkins. Discover his iconic works from the late 19th century.
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki (Auckland, New Zealand)
Explore Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki's diverse collection of Māori & Pacific art, NZ masters, and international masterpieces. Discover stunning architecture & engaging exhibitions.
About this artwork
- Title: The Phantom Canoe: A Legend of Lake Tarawera
- Artist: charles henry kennett watkins
- Year: 1888
- Original dimensions: 17.0 x 7.0 cm
- Format: Panoramic
- Copyright status: Public domain
- Where to see it: Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
- Color palette: Earthy
- Perceived brightness: deep_shadow
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