Una Platts (1908 – 6 July 2005) was a New Zealand artist and one of the country's first art historians.[1]

Una Platts
Born1908
Wellington Edit this on Wikidata
Died6 July 2005 Edit this on Wikidata (aged 96–97)
Takapuna Edit this on Wikidata
Alma materAuckland University College
OccupationArt historian, teacher Edit this on Wikidata

Life and career edit

Platts was born in Wellington, New Zealand, in 1908. Her father was Charles Oakley Platts, a government official; her mother was Flora Galbraith.[2] The family later moved to Auckland where Platts attended the Diocesan School for Girls and Auckland University College from 1926 to 1927. On graduating, she began work as a teacher.[2]

In the 1950s, Platts worked for the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki curating a series of exhibitions showcasing colonial artists and the early history of Auckland.[1] Her most notable work, Nineteenth century New Zealand artists: a guide and handbook, published in 1980, was the result of 26 years of research and is considered the finest single source of information on early New Zealand artists.[3][4]

Notable New Zealand artists Colin McCahon and Olivia Spencer Bower painted her portrait, and both these artworks plus her own work is held in the collection of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki.[5]

Platts died in the Auckland region on 6 July 2005.[6]

Works edit

  • The Lively Capital: Auckland 1840–1865, Avon Fine Prints, Christchurch, 1971[2]
  • Nineteenth Century New Zealand Artists: A Guide & Handbook. Christchurch: Avon Fine Prints. 1980.[7][8]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Portrait of Una Platts". Auckland Art Gallery. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "Una Platts Papers" (PDF). Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  3. ^ "Portrait of Una Platts". Auckland Art Gallery. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  4. ^ "Nineteenth century New Zealand artists : a guide & handbook". christchurchcitylibraries.com. Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  5. ^ "Self portrait of me". Auckland Art Gallery. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  6. ^ "Una Platts". Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  7. ^ "History of New Zealand painting: Further information". NZHistory. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  8. ^ "Nineteenth Century New Zealand Artists: A Guide & Handbook | NZETC". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 1 January 2020.