James Nairn facts for kids

This picture shows students at the Wellington School of Design around the 1890s. James Nairn and Mabel Hill are on the far left. The woman with the skeleton's arm is Mary Elizabeth Tripe.

James McLauchlan Nairn (born November 18, 1859 – died February 22, 1904) was an important New Zealand painter. He greatly influenced New Zealand art in the late 1800s. James Nairn believed in painting en plein air. This French phrase means painting outdoors, right in front of what you see.

Life and Work

Early Art Training

James Nairn studied art for four years at the Glasgow School of Art starting in 1879. Later, he went to the Académie Julian in Paris to continue his studies. During the 1880s, Nairn showed his artwork in big exhibitions. These included the Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts and the Royal Scottish Academy. He was also part of a group called the Glasgow Boys. These Scottish artists were very interested in a new style of painting called Impressionism.

Moving to New Zealand

In 1890, James Nairn moved from Glasgow to Dunedin, New Zealand, because of his health. A year later, in 1891, he moved to Wellington. There, he became an art teacher at the Wellington Technical School. He brought the Impressionist style, which he learned from the Glasgow school, to New Zealand. He taught and inspired many other New Zealand artists. Some of these artists were Dorothy Kate Richmond, Maud Winifred Sherwood, Mabel Hill, Maude Burge, and Mollie Tripe.

Nairn's Painting Style

Nairn's Impressionist style is easy to see in his many paintings of Wellington Harbour. For example, his painting "Wellington Harbour, 1894" shows this clearly. You can see his brushstrokes, which help capture how the afternoon sun looks on the water. He painted this landscape outdoors (en plein air). This helped him truly show how light affects water in real life.

Art Community in Wellington

Soon after settling in Wellington, Nairn joined the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts. He was elected to their council and served from 1890 to 1903. He also started the Wellington Art Club. This club often met at Nairn's home, which was known as "Pumpkin Cottage." This cottage became a popular meeting spot for artists in Wellington. Nairn's influence spread across New Zealand. He regularly sent his paintings to be shown in other cities.

Family and Later Years

James Nairn married Ellen Smith on March 17, 1898. They had two daughters named Mari Bhan and Ellen May Victoria. James Nairn passed away at his home in Wellington on February 22, 1904. He was 44 years old.

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  Wellington Harbour, 1894, Wellington, by James Nairn.

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  Evans Bay, 1893, Wellington, by James Nairn.

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  Winter morning, Wellington Harbour, circa 1900, Wellington, by James Nairn.