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Born in England in 1845, John Philemon Backhouse moved to New Zealand by 1865 where he served in the armed constabulary. He painted in the thermal areas of New Zealand and created pencil, wash, and watercolour sketches of the Onehunga area and other parts of Auckland. He became a fulltime artist in the early 1890s and sketched scenes of New Zealand and visited Australia and many of his sketchbooks are in the Turnbull library. He also created studies of birds and insects. He is known for painting on shells and small boards. He died in 1908.

8 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

John Philemon Backhouse (Britain, New Zealand, 1845-1908),…

Possible title: "Mt Egmont in Oil on Shell"

John Philemon Backhouse (Britain, New Zealand, 1845-1908),  Untitled, possibly Mt Egmont, oil on shell

John Philemon Backhouse (Britain, New Zealand, 1845-1908)  Koto…

Hot Lake Reflections

John Philemon Backhouse (Britain, New Zealand, 1845-1908)  Koto Atamaheke, Hot Lake, Whaka, oil on shell

A painted shell in the manner of John Philemon Backhouse,…

Backhouse-style Painted Shell: Ruapehu, Tongariro, Lake Taupo, NZ

A painted shell in the manner of John Philemon Backhouse, 'Ruapehu, Tongariro, lake Taupo, New Zealand' - a view of a war canoes and a marae, oil on black-lipped oyster-pearl shell, unsigned, titled. 18 cm x 17.5 cm.

A painted shell in the manner of John Philemon Backhouse, - a…

Backhouse-style Lake View on Oyster Shell

A painted shell in the manner of John Philemon Backhouse, - a view of a lake, whare and figures, oil on black-lipped oyster-pearl shell, unsigned. 22 cm x 19 cm.

A New Zealand colonial painted shell, attributed to John…

Painted New Zealand Shell: Waikato River Scene

A New Zealand colonial painted shell, attributed to John Philoman Backhouse (1845-1908), painted with a river village scene, entitled 'Waikato River'. 5 cm x 17 cm

A New Zealand colonial painted shell, attributed to John…

Colonial Shell: Tongariro Village Scene

A New Zealand colonial painted shell, attributed to John Philoman Backhouse (1845-1908), painted with a village lake scene, entitled 'Tongariro, Lake Taupo'. 17 cm x 17 cm

A New Zealand colonial painted shell, attributed to John…

New Zealand Colonial Painted Shell: Wanganui Scene

A New Zealand colonial painted shell, attributed to John Philoman Backhouse (1845-1908), painted with a bush scene, entitled 'Scene of the Wanganui'. 10.5 cm x 10.5 cm

A small colonial New Zealand painted shell, attributed to John…

Painted Shell: Mud Volcano by J.P. Backhouse

A small colonial New Zealand painted shell, attributed to John Philemon Backhouse (1845-1908), painted with volcanic scene and entitled 'Mud Volcano, Waiotapo'. 7.5 cm x 8.5 cm