Silich Collection

William George Baker was one of the first generation of New Zealand-born artists. He began exhibiting his work in 1883, and became a professional artist at the turn of the century. He toured the country looking for suitable landscape subjects, which he sold in exhibitions at agricultural shows in nearby towns. He painted mostly in the Wairarapa and Southern Lake districts, usually in oils. At the turn of the century, Baker (who was trained as an upholsterer) became a professional artist, and toured the country looking for suitable subjects. He painted mostly in the Wairarapa and Southern Lake districts, usually in oils.