Alfred Henry O'Keefe

Happy Birthday Alfred Henry O'Keefe!! I believe this may be the first time I've written about a New Zealand artist! O'Keefe was born in 1858, in Australia, but his family relocated to Dunedin, New Zealand when he was only 4. After an apprenticeship in cabinet making, he studied art in Paris, finally settling back in Dunedin. A family man with 6 children, O'Keefe supported his family by running hotels and teaching art. He painted a wide range of subjects, including portraits, still life and land and sea scapes. Perhaps the most poignant is The Defense Minister's Telegram, depicting the heart wrenching moment when a father learns of his son's death at war. Particularly touching since O'Keefe lost two sons in this manner...