Titled ‘Home Sweet Home’ this watercolour by Bert Levy is in The Sarjeant Gallery’s is in Whanganui in New Zealand. (North Island)

The gallery’s nationally significant collection comprises over 8,000 artworks and archival items spanning four centuries of European and New Zealand art history.

The Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua Whanganui was founded through the generosity of one man to his home city. In 1912, Henry Sarjeant left a huge sum of money – the equivalent of over $70 million in today’s terms – to establish the gallery “as a means of inspiration for ourselves and those who come after us”. The Gallery opened in 1919 and is recognised as one of the country’s most important heritage buildings.

HOME SWEET HOME by Bert Levy (gallery detail below)

Measurements

394 x 290mm

Media

pen and ink on paper

Description

Pen and ink drawing of two men in bowler hats standing on a street with buildings and people behind them. One is playing a clarinet and the other is holding a trumpet.

Credit Line

Collection of the Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua Whanganui. Donated in 1918 by The Bulletin, Sydney.

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Be interesting to know how and why the water colour made it to New Zealand. It certainly looks like a USA city scene. Bert returned home to Australia in 1911 and then not again till 1923… any thoughts ?