Born in 1816, Joseph Merrett moved to Auckland from Sydney in about 1841. He made drawings for Charles Terry's publication 'New Zealand: its Advantages and Prospects as a British Colony'. He travelled to the north painting Maoris interpreting and surveying. Many of his drawings are in the 'New Zealand Pictorial Scrap Book' in the British Museum in London. By 1849 he was working as a portrait and landscape painter, designer and illustrator. Merrett died in Wellington in 1854. His work is represented in major New Zealand collections, including the Auckland City Art Gallery and the Hocken and Turnbull Libraries.
The earliest auction listing we have for Joseph Merrett is in 1979 and in total 15 works by the artist have been offered for sale, of which 11 (73%) were sold. The highest price recorded for the artist is $5,403 for A Blind Chief of Otawao sold by International Art Centre in July 2009. No works have been offered for sale this year, and the last sale we have recorded for the artist was in 2019. Works by Joseph Merrett are held by the Museum Of New Zealand, Auckland Art Gallery and National Gallery of Australia.
Joseph Jenner Merrett is listed in the following standard biographical references:
Could the second and subsequent works by this artist sold after June 9, 2010 for over $1,000 be liable for the Artists' Resale Royalty? More info…
No, ineligible. The artist has been deceased for more than 70 years.
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