One of a family of painters, Blomfield arrived in New Zealand at the age of 15. He travelled almost constantly, recording his views of the landscape and exhibiting his work in the main centres. Blomfield was impressed by the physical grandeur of the New Zealand scenery, and attempted to capture this sense of the sublime in his paintings. He established his reputation by painting views of the Rotorua thermal areas, in images designed to excite a sense of awe and wonderment in their European audience.

Born in London in 1848, Charles Blomfield arrived in Auckland from England in 1863 at the age of fifteen, and from then until his death was active as an artist. With practically no formal training whatsoever, Blomfield nevertheless achieved considerable distinction as an artist in his day. A favourite subject of his was the Pink and White Terraces.
- Lara Strongman, Curator of Fine Arts