Paris-born Charles Méryon spent most of his early adulthood as a lieutenant aboard Le Rhin, a French navy ship. He was stationed at Akaroa from 1843 until 1846. Although a talented artist, he was colorblind. So Méryon pursued etching and became one of the best engravers in the 19th century while producing almost 100 prints. Méryon died in 1868 at the early age of 47 after being committed to a mental asylum, a condition potentially caused by the acidic materials used in traditional etching. This life-size bronze statue of Méryon – curiously holding a paintbrush aimed at a hollow easel – was produced by Don Paterson, a resident of Oamaru, New Zealand.