The Sarjeant Gallery, a beautiful century old heritage building and one of New Zealand’s most important art galleries, finally re-opened this November with a new extension added. It had been closed for many years for earthquake strengthening. To coincide with the celebratory opening, award- winning author Martin Edmond was commissioned to write its history. Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery: A Whanganui biography is a handsome book richly illustrated with key artworks from the Sarjeant’s collection as well as historic and more recent photographs.
The Sarjeant gallery was able to be built thanks to a very generous bequest from Henry Sarjeant in 1912 to establish and maintain a fine art gallery.
Martin Edmond recounts the curious tale of how a competition was held for the design of the building. The winning entry was created by Donald Hosie, but his boss Edmund Anscombe claimed it was his and was awarded the prize. Edmund Anscombe’s architectural firm oversaw the construction, and his name is still inscribed on the gallery’s foundation stone.
Read the rest of the review at NZ Booklovers here.
