Louis John Steele (British b. England 1842-d. New Zealand 1918)
A Collection of Thirteen Sketches of Landscapes and Portraits and a Sketchbook
Many inscribed with the address and date: Rue Quincampoix - Paris 1867
five black chalk, two pen and ink, two watercolour and three pencil,
various sizes

All unframed (14)


Louis Steele was educated in Reigate and at the École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts in Paris. In his 20’s he went to Florence to further his studies in painting. In 1870-71 he returned to Paris during the siege. He exhibited at the Salon in Paris and the Exposition international de Lille. On his return to England he exhibited paintings at the Royal Academy in 1872 and 1875 and etchings from 1881-1886. Critics wrote of his the ‘mossy touch’ and exceptional richness of tone of his engravings, some of which were published by Tooth’s gallery and in the Portfolio and the Art Journal.

In 1886 he left England and went to live in Auckland, New Zealand in search of health. He set up a studio in the Victoria Arcade in Auckland where he taught life drawing and the antique. He returned to painting and took great interest in the Maori, recording their activities in several fine paintings. His large history paintings were sometimes painted jointly with another artist. He collaborated with his former pupil Charles F. Goldie in ‘The arrival of the Maori in New Zealand’ 1898. ‘The last stand of Captain Starlight’ which he collaborated on with Kennett Watkins was toured around Australia. He made an important contribution to the art life of Auckland introducing his skills as an engraver and leaving many notable portraits and history paintings. His works are represented in the National Art Gallery, the Hocken Library and the Auckland City Art Gallery.