Story: Art galleries and collections

'Mrs Humphrey Devereux', 1771

'Mrs Humphrey Devereux', 1771

The portrait 'Mrs Humphrey Devereux'by American artist John Singleton Copley, came to New Zealand with the Greenwood family, who emigrated from England in 1843. Their forebear John Greenwood commissioned the portrait of his mother, who lived in America, in 1770 and it was shipped to him in England early the following year. The New Zealand Greenwoods displayed the portrait in a prominent position in their Motueka home and it remained in the family until 1965, when it was donated to the National Art Gallery. It is now held by the Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa.

Using this item

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Reference: 1965-0013-1
Oil on canvas by John Singleton Copley

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:

Roger Blackley, 'Art galleries and collections - 19th-century collections and galleries', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/42077/mrs-humphrey-devereux-1771 (accessed 25 April 2024)

Story by Roger Blackley, published 22 Oct 2014, updated 8 Aug 2016