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Story: Arts and the nation

John Gully painting of Southern Alps, 1862

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John Gully painting of Southern Alps, 1862

This watercolour by John Gully is entitled 'Sources of the Godley River' and shows the Claasen and Godley glaciers. It was typical of the images of snowy mountain scenes painted by Gully and other colonial artists, which were intended to present New Zealand as a country with sublime views reminiscent of the European Alps.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: C-096-004

by John Gully

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Jock Phillips, Arts and the nation – The 19th century, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/45000/john-gully-painting-of-southern-alps-1862 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Jock Phillips, published 15 April 2014.