Stuart, Helen

Helen Stuart

born circa 1848, Barton, Staffordshire, England, daughter of Samuel Stuart, grocer [born 9 June 1818 - died 18 February 1887] and Helen Wright Hodgetts [born 1 October 1826 - died 20 September 1904], arrived Auckland, New Zealand, 10 May 1859 on the "Caduceus" from London aged about 11 years, died 5 April 1923 Mount Eden, Auckland aged 75 years, married 29 March 1911, reg.  1911/687, Harry Rochead Moore. 

Sister of the photographer Samuel Stuart.

(as Stewart in 1851 census of Tatenhill, Staffordshire)



There is now being exhibited in the shop window of Mr. Haslett, bookseller, of Shortland-street, a number of photographs which have been hand-coloured (water colours), by Miss Stewart (sic). The photographs are from the studio of Messrs. Bradley and Rulofson, of San Francisco, the well-known photographers, and are admirable likenesses of Mrs. Scott Siddons, Miss Neilson, Miss Mary Anderson, Mr. Sothern (as Lord Dundreary), and other celebrities.

Miss Stewart (sic), as a photographic colourist, has done ample justice to these works of art, for so they may be termed, and the collection will repay inspection.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5543, 22 August 1879

Colonial and Indian Exhibition, London 1886
... There is a series of Maori portraits, apparently coloured photographs, by Miss Helen Stuart, of Auckland, which deserve special mention, for the great artistic excellence of their execution. Manga (Rewi), Te Kawau, and several other chiefs and notable Maori women are represented in native costumes, the patterns and tints of which are most carefully and beautifully worked out, while the painting of the features, the tattoo marks, and the perfect expression of the eyes, are most delicately and effectively portrayed. This style of art, if carried out in the same faultless way as these exhibits, would do much to rescue interesting Maori types from oblivion...

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7706, 3 August 1886

Sale of New Zealand Pictures
New Zealand artists are to be congratulated on having done more "business" at the Exhibition than any others. I am informed that most of their pictures would have been sold at price, but not at that unwisely fixed by the owners. However, as it is, a good many works have found an English home. Mr. Richard Beetham, of Christchurch, has sold his three — the view of the Hollyford Valley realising £10 ; the Samoan landscapes, £6 each. Mr. Charles Blomfield, of Auckland, has been successful in finding purchasers for all his examples. His fine picture of Rotomahana, from the Pink Terraces, fetched £26 5s; the full front view of the great White Terrace, £18 18s ; the Boiling Cauldron and Crater of the White Terraces, £10 10s ; the View from the Top of the White Terrace, £18 18s ; Grand Buttress and Venus' Bath, £10 10s ; Venus' Bath, £10 l0s; Sunset on the White Terrace, £12 12s; Lower Pools, White Terrace, £12 12s ; front view of Pink Terrace, £12 12s; Hot Baths, Pink Terrace, £10 10s; Rotomahana, from Geysers of Terahoparaterangi, £12 12s; and Mud Flat, £10 10s.
 
Two of Mr. John Gibb's pictures —"A Stiff Breeze, Cook's Straits," and " On the Avon, Christchurch," sold for £25 each. Mr. G. H. Elliott, of Christchurch, obtained £5 for "The Old Mill, near Christchurch." Mrs. G. B. Hetley, of Auckland, received £3 3s for her eight pictures of New Zealand flowers. Miss M. O. Stoddart, of Christchurch, £16 16s for her picture, "In the Bush," and Helen Stuart, of Auckland, £17 17s for her eight Maori portraits.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7832, 29 December 1886

Death has removed another old colonist in Mr. Samuel Stuart, of Kingsland, who, after six months of suffering, borne with great patience, breathed his last on the 18th inst. The deceased gentleman landed in Auckland with his family in 1859, and for many years carried on business as a coffee merchant in Seafield View.

He was a man of Was natural ingenuity, and introduced into colony many improvements in machinery an processes connected with his trade. Of late years he has been connected with the New Zealand Vinegar Works in Stanley-street.

Stuart displayed his willingness to give time and energies in  the service of the public by occupying the post of chairman of the Mount Albert School Committee, and latterly acting as secretary to the same body. He was also chairman of the Mount Albert Road Board. Mr. Stuart gained the respect of all who knew him by his integrity of conduct in business, and unassuming kindliness of disposition in private life.

He leaves a widow and grown-up family of four sons, and two daughters, of whom Mr. Samuel Stuart, jun., and Miss Helen Stuart are well known in artistic circles.

Mr. George Stuart has lately been appointed American consul, New Britain. His two other sons are Mr. Arthur Stuart, who is in the Auckland Post Office, and Mr. William Stuart , who, engaged in his father's business at the Vinegar Works. Mrs. G. N. Sturtevant, of Stark's Point, Devonport, is his daughter.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7880, 24 February 1887 

Miss Helen Stuart, photographic colourist, has received private information that she has been awarded first prize at the Melbourne Exhibition. Miss Stuart's skill has been recognised at various exhibitions in different places, and her friends will no doubt be pleased to learn of the additional honour conferred upon her.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9203, 5 November 1888

A number of exhibits were received yesterday at the Choral Hall by the secretary of the Auckland Art Society (Mr J. L. Holland) for the forthcoming exhibition...We are glad to find some new local exhibitioners... Miss Helen Stewart [sic] also appears for the first time, as a contributor to life studies (water colours) the portrait of a child, which gives such excellent promise that it is to be regretted that she has not sooner turned her attention to this branch of art. This lady, who holds the premier place as a photographic colourist, tributes a coloured photograph of the old chieftain Rewi, which will be of great interest at the present time, also some other portraits — a native woman and a society beauty.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9443, 24 February 1894 

Our London Letter
...Some very clever paintings have been received by the Agent-general from Miss, Helen Stuart, of Auckland, two being designed for presentation to her Majesty Queen Victoria. One is a capital portrait of Rewi, the famous Maori chief, the other of a young Maori girl. They have been greatly admired while at the Agency-general, and will doubtless he graciously received by her Majesty.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10601, 22 February 1896

Mrs. H. S. Moore.
A resident of Auckland of nearly 70 years standing, Mrs, Helen Stuart Moore, died recently at her residence, View Road, Mount Eden. Mrs. Moore, who was 75 years of age, arrived in New Zealand when a young child with her parents, and had resided in Auckland practically ever since. Mrs. Moore  was a member of the Auckland Art Society from its inception, and when unable to exhibit was made a life member of the society.

She was well known for the excellence of  her work, especially in portraiture. She won a medal for a painting exhibited at the Paris Exhibition during the reign of Queen Victoria. This painting, which was of the Princess of Wales, was afterwards presented by Sir George Grey to Queen Victoria, who sent Mrs. Moore a signed acknowledgment.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18374, 14 April 1923