JOHN GIBB (1831-1909) New Zealand

AFTER THE STORM, TIMARU BEACH

Oil on canvas 29 1/2 x 40 ins

Signed and dated 1893

(Presented by the executors of the late Thomas Peacock, 1922.)

John Gibb was born at Cumbernauld, Stirlingshire, Scotland, in 1831. He studied painting under John Mackenzie, of Greenock, later showing work in the exhibitions of the West of Scotland and Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts. In 1876 he came to New Zealand and settled in Christchurch where he continued to paint prolifically, exhibiting in art society exhibitions throughout the country. His realistic treatment of water in his seascapes (Will she weather it?; Squally weather, Port Chalmers Harbour; On the reef, Kaikoura, etc.) won approval, as did

his later landscapes of Canterbury and the West Coast.
   A painting The Wreck of the City of Perth by John Gibb was exhibited at the Auckland Society of Arts (cat no 77) in 1883. but further art society catalogues of this period show no mention of the Ben Venue nor any other painting titled as ours originally was.
   The ship Ben Venue was driven ashore at Timaru on Sunday, May 14th 1882, striking the beach under the cliffs at Caroline Bay, where she turned broadside on and lay with her decks canted seaward. Later on the same day the City of Perth also dragged her anchor and grounded on the beach close to the Ben Venue but maintained an even keel. The Ben Venue was a total wreck, but the City of Perth was later refloated, undamaged and renamed Tuakina.—C.MCC.