the collector's folio

Kennett Watkins Most Popular Paintings

The 6 artworks by Kennett Watkins our visitors ask for most, ranked by popularity and presented one by one, with the specification and the price of each hand-painted reproduction.

Edition 2026 · 6 artworks Each artwork painted to order
Linen canvas · Certificate of authenticity · Delivered worldwide Kennett Watkins · 1847 – 1933

Early Spring; or, A Narrow of the Waikato River

1881 · Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington · original 59.8 x 136.4cm

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 1 of 6 artworks by Kennett Watkins
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$25048 × 21 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$491136 × 60 cm Commission at original size

Arrival of Captain Cook; An incident in the Bay of Islands, 29 November 1769 by Kennett Watkins

1890 · Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, Auckland · original 54.5 x 42.1cm

View the most popular artwork of Kennett Watkins ranked #2: Arrival of Captain Cook; An incident in the Bay of Islands, 29 November 1769

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 2 of 6 artworks by Kennett Watkins
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$35025 × 40 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$39442 × 55 cm Commission at original size

The Haunt of the Moa, a scene in Puriri Forest by Kennett Watkins, 1885

1885 · Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, Auckland · original 91.0 x 172.5cm

View the most popular artwork of Kennett Watkins ranked #3: The Haunt of the Moa, a scene in Puriri Forest

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 3 of 6 artworks by Kennett Watkins
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$20044 × 23 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$693173 × 91 cm Commission at original size

Departure of the six canoes from Raratonga for New Zealand (1906) by Kennett Watkins

1906 · Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, Auckland · original 107.5 x 214.0cm

View the most popular artwork of Kennett Watkins ranked #4: Departure of the six canoes from Raratonga for New Zealand

Color Palette: Neutrals

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 4 of 6 artworks by Kennett Watkins
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$20045 × 22 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$936214 × 108 cm Commission at original size

The Phantom Canoe: A Legend of Lake Tarawera (1888) by Kennett Watkins

1888 · Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, Auckland · original 17 x 7 cm

View the most popular artwork of Kennett Watkins ranked #5: The Phantom Canoe: A Legend of Lake Tarawera

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 5 of 6 artworks by Kennett Watkins
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$20041 × 24 cm Commission this artwork

The Legend of the Voyage to New Zealand by Kennett Watkins, 1912

1912 · Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, Auckland · original 266 x 132 cm

A dynamic scene of canoes navigating the waters captures the spirit of adventure in this 1912 oil painting by Charles Henry Kennett Watkins, inviting you to bring this legendary New Zealand voyage into your collection.

View the most popular artwork of Kennett Watkins ranked #6: The Legend of the Voyage to New Zealand

Color Palette: Neutrals

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 6 of 6 artworks by Kennett Watkins
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$20045 × 22 cm Commission this artwork

The artist

Kennett Watkins

1847 – 1933

Quick facts

Copyright statusPublic domain
Color intensitybalanced
Art period19th Century
Top 3 worksEarly Spring; or, A Narrow of the Waikato River, Arrival of Captain Cook; An incident in the Bay of Islands, 29 November 1769, The Haunt of the Moa, a scene in Puriri Forest
Born1847, Ooty, India
Also known asCharles Henry Kennett Watkins
NationalityIndia

Biography

early life and education

charles henry kennett watkins, a prominent figure in new zealand's art scene, was born on july 14, 1847, in ootacamund, india to major john watkins of the indian army. his life was marked by adaptability and artistic prowess. after attending wellington college and studying in switzerland and france, watkins pursued further studies that likely influenced his unique perspective on new zealand's landscapes and the maori culture.

artistic career and notable works

upon immigrating to new zealand at 27, watkins initially worked as a photographer before teaching in russell. in 1876, he became the first headmaster of the auckland free school of art, marking the beginning of his illustrious career. some of his notable works include:

waikato river (oil on canvas, 1881), a serene depiction of new zealand's natural beauty, showcased at the auckland art gallery toi o tāmaki.
the haunt of the moa, a scene in puriri forest (oil on canvas, 1885), highlighting his fascination with the country's flora and fauna.
the phantom canoe: a legend of lake tarawera (oil on canvas, 1888), a mystical piece delving into new zealand's rich cultural heritage. view more of charles henry kennett watkins' artworks on OriginalUniqueArt: https://OriginalUniqueArt.com/@/charles-henry-kennett-watkins
personal life and legacy
on 10 october 1876, watkins married clara eliza alice davis at kerikeri, with whom he had four children. his passing on 31 july 1933 in mercury bay, waikato, marked the end of an era. explore the artist's biography and notable works on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/kennett_watkins discover more about new zealand's art scene and its influential figures on OriginalUniqueArt: /en/art/list/

Questions & Answers

What moods do Kennett Watkins's artworks express?

Kennett Watkins's works can be browsed by mood on the artist's Mood Room page, which arranges the artworks by their recorded moods.

What are the birthplace and birth year of Kennett Watkins?

Kennett Watkins was born in Ooty in 1847.

Is there a chronological account of Kennett Watkins?

Kennett Watkins's career unfolds period by period on the artist's Chronicle page: a horizontal timeline of the artworks, grouped into career-period chapters.

By the OriginalUniqueArt.com Editorial Team Updated Oct. 3, 2026

Collector's quiz

Albert Pinkham Ryder is most known for his paintings depicting:
In what year was Albert Pinkham Ryder born?
Ryder's artistic style is often described as:
Albert Pinkham Ryder spent a significant portion of his early career in:
Which of the following best describes Ryder's unique approach to painting?

one You choose the size

Standard formats or any custom dimension, matched to the proportions of the original.

two We paint and send a preview

A photo of the finished canvas for your approval before it is shipped.

three Delivered, certified

Rolled, stretched or framed, insured, with a certificate of authenticity.

Commission your Kennett Watkins

Every artwork by Kennett Watkins in our catalog can be painted to order, in the size that suits the room.

All artworks by Kennett Watkins