Untitled

Correspondence D. M. Wylie, Librarian, Victoria University Wellington, New Zealand, to B. de Lange, 7 September 1983, "The painting came to the University in 1961 as part of a gift of New Zealand watercolours from the late Mr & Mrs T D H Hall."

Correspondence Sophie Thorn, Collection Officer, Adam Art Gallery, Victoria University of Wellington, to B. de Lange, 1 May 2019, “The work in your picture is one which was/is held in the VUW Art Collection. It is unfortunately missing and was last sighted in the mid ‘90s. I am looking to track down the work…”

The work is listed in a collection catalogue from 1984, Victoria University of Wellington: Catalogue of the Art Collection, pg 12, as part of The Hall Collection [see Related images 1-5]. It is catalogued as:

213
SCALES Flora, 1888-
Sand Dunes
watercolour on paper, 23 x 23

The following correspondence between B. de Lange and V.G. Elliott, University Librarian, Victoria University of Wellington Library, New Zealand, dated between 21 August 1992 and 15 March 1993 [see Related images], details the potential loaning of Untitled [Sand Dunes] [BC011] for an exhibition at the Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua Whanganui, New Zealand in 1993. The exhibition did not eventuate but the letters confirm that the painting was at the University in September 1992.

21 August 1992

The University Librarian
Victoria University of Wellington
Private Bag
WELLINGTON

Dear Librarian,

I have recently been continuing my research on Helen Flora Victoria Scales.

In 1983 I made notes about a painting by Flora Scales entitled Sand Dunes which was then part of the University collection of art. Would you be kind enough to tell me if the painting is still included in the collection, or, if you know, of its whereabouts.

Thank you for your assistance.

Yours faithfully,

BARBI de LANGE


21 September 1992

Dear Ms de Lange,

Thank you for your letter of 21 August 1992 about the painting Sand Dunes by Flora Scales. Please accept my apologies for this belated response to your letter.

I am pleased to confirm that the painting remains at the University as part of the Hall Collection.

Yours sincerely,

V.G. Elliott
University Librarian


27 October 1992

Mr. V G Elliott
University Librarian
Victoria University of Wellington
Po Box 3438
WELLINGTON

Dear Mr. Elliott,

Thank you for your letter of 21 September confirming that Flora Scales's watercolour "Sand Dunes" is still part of the Hall Collection at the University.

Over the past three years, I have been planning a touring retrospective exhibition of Flora Scales's work. It seems likely that this exhibition will be mounted in 1993 by the Sarjeant Gallery, Wanganui, under the directorship of Mr. Bill Millbank.

After a two-month period at the Sarjeant Gallery, the paintings will proceed to approximately seven art institutions around New Zealand.

At this stage, we need to establish which paintings will be available for:

(a) The exhibition;

(b) The professional photography session at the Auckland City Art Gallery for inclusion as a colour plate in the catalogue.

I would very much like to include "Sand Dunes" as a beautiful example of her little-known early work. I wonder if the University would be willing to make the painting available for these purposes? If this request should need the consideration of several people at the University, would you be kind enough to put my letter forward as appropriate. Should the University feel able to agree in principle to this request, details will be forthcoming, along with a formal letter of request from the Sarjeant Gallery.

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you wish to discuss anything further at this stage.

I look forward to hearing from you and hope this request will be regarded favourably.

Yours sincerely,

BARBI de LANGE


21 December 1992

Dear Ms de Lange

Thank you for your letter of 27 October 1992 in which you asked whether the University would be willing to allow the watercolour Sand Dunes by Flora Scales to be included in an exhibition of her work next year and to be reproduced as a colour plate in the exhibition catalogue.

I am pleased to advise that the University will make the painting available for both purposes.

I look forward to receiving in due course the formal letter of request for the painting from the Sargeant Gallery in Wanganui.

Yours sincerely

V.G. Elliott
University Librarian


15 March 1993

Mr V.G. Elliott
University Librarian
Victoria University of Wellington
PO Box 3438 Wellington

Dear Mr Elliott,

I have now received advice from the Sargeant Gallery that its not possible to schedule the proposed exhibition of Flora Scales’s paintings until 1995.

Thank you for your offer to lend the work in your collection.

Yours Sincerely,

Barbi de Lange

A black and white photograph of this work is included in an artist’s file dedicated to Flora Scales at the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, reference Scales, Helen Flora Victoria, 1887-1985, Artist file prints [see Related images 12-13]. The file contains black and white photographs on card of 26 of the artworks in the Alexander Turnbull collection and Untitled [Sand Dunes] which is not a part of the collection. It is unknown why this work has been included in this file.

Each card measures 167 x 216mm and the image size varies. Each card has handwritten reference notes along the top detailing artist name, title, year, size, and reference number. Further, on the back of each card are handwritten annotations with information including media, reference numbers and location within the physical collection. The overleaf of this card notes “In Victoria University Library.”

The cards in this file are undated. Correspondence B. de Lange and Kimberley Stephenson, Research Librarian Pictorial, Alexander Turnbull Library, September 2025, notes, “Neither the associated copy negatives nor the file prints are dated but based on notes I found in the negative register one group (intermittent between 1/2-092380-F and 1/2-092705-F) was in existence by May 1979, while a second group (intermittent between 1/2-162480-F to 1/2-162510-F) had been created by December 1986. Given most of the paintings entered the collection in 1979, this does suggest that the first group shows the works soon after they were accessioned. The second group appears to have been taken during reframing or conservation treatment as many are shown without their stretchers.”

The cool, pearly colour used in this painting suggests the influence of Art Nouveau. Scales would have been exposed to this movement while at art school in London and through the pages of The Studio magazine. She would also have seen references to the style in New Zealand in the work of Edward Friström [1864-1950], D.K. Richmond [1861-1935], Margaret Stoddart [1865-1934] and the young John Weeks [1886-1965].