A Children’s Guide to Splendour by Pukerua Bay School Museum

A Children’s Guide to Splendour by Pukerua Bay School Museum

Written for children, by children, Te Papa’s Learning Innovation and Art teams are very excited to share the first book produced by our friends from the Pukerua Bay School Museum.

This guide is full of great information relating to life in Europe in the 16th to 19th centuries – inspired by the taonga (treasures) on display in the European Splendour 1500-1800 exhibition in Ngā Toi | Arts Te Papa.

Download a copy [PDF, 2MB]

A Children's Guide to Splendour by Isaac du Toit, edited by Paddy Rockwell.
A Children’s Guide to Splendour by Isaac du Toit (aged 12), edited by Paddy Rockwell (aged 11).

Some highlights from the guide

Did you know…

  • William Hogarth’s work in the 18th century helped to originate the comic books we love today?
Hogarth as a comic, by Isaac du
Hogarth as a comic, by Isaac du Toit, 2016, using Marriage à-la-mode series by W. Hogarth 1743-1745
  • that there were no such thing as selfies? You would need to ‘sit’ for a portrait in order to have a picture of yourself – or anyone else important to you. This is a picture of Mrs Humphrey Devereux, commissioned by her son John Greenwood.
John Copley, Mrs Humphrey
John Copley, Mrs Humphrey Devereux, 1771, oil on canvas. Gift
of the Greenwood family, 1965. Te Papa (1965-0013-1)
  • you could be arrested and fined just for wearing purple clothing?
Unknown artist, Elizabeth I of
Unknown artist, Elizabeth I of England. From William Camden, “The historie of the most
renowned and victorious Princesse Elizabeth, late queene of England” 1630. Te Papa
(RB001301/001a)
  • a whole language was spoken through fans?
Artist unknown, Folding fan about
Artist unknown, Folding fan about 1750, France, paper, water colour, gilt, mother of pearl, brass. Gift of Mr and Mrs Ernest Makower, 1938. Te Papa (1938-0003-3)
  • people living at this time were very interested in exotic objects and curiosities? This cabinet (in the exhibition) is adorned with shark skin!
Artist Unknown, Cabinet on stand
Artist Unknown, Cabinet on stand about 1690, England, wood,
lacquer, abalone, sharkskin, brass. Bequest of Mrs E G Elgar, 1945. Te Papa (PF000039)

 

Congratulations to Isaac, Paddy, and Megan (Isaac’s Mum) on this wonderful achievement.

Isaac and Paddy, Photograph by Rebecca Browne, © Pukerua Bay School Museum
Isaac and Paddy at Te Papa. Photograph by Rebecca Browne, © Pukerua Bay School Museum

We hope you’ll enjoy reading the book as much as we all did.

 

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