Fierce Portrait

This rather fierce-looking portrait of the infamous mercenary Major Gustavus Ferdinand von Tempsky, was painted in memoriam in 1869 by fellow Forest Ranger John Patrick Ward. It references established traditions of portrait painting. Ward conveys his admiration for von Tempsky by depicting him sitting in a dignified, rather proud position with his head held almost defiantly high. He clutches a staff in one hand, adding a stiffness to his pose. The window in the background is a device, often used by Italian Renaissance painters, to convey a sense of depth. 

Major von Tempsky was killed in battle at Te Ngutu o te Manu on 7 September 1868. On hearing of the death of von Tempsky and the loss of the Forest Rangers in south Taranaki, Ward – who had left the Rangers to work in the Thames goldfields in 1866 – joined the No. 6 Division Armed Constabulary.  He went on to become a warden of Te Whiti and Tohu during their interment in Dunedin and later wrote a book about the experience.