oil on canvas
Artwork date: 1914
Signature details: signed and dated
Condition Report
Cleaned and revarnished, placed on a new stretcher, good.
Please note, we are not qualified conservators and these reports give our opinion as to the general condition of the works. We advise that bidders view the lots in person to satisfy themselves with the condition of prospective purchases.
oil on canvas
Artwork date: 1914
Signature details: signed and dated
(1)
35 x 45 cm
Gift from the artist to the current owner’s mother on the occasion of her wedding on 2 August 1923
Notes:
On their return to South Africa at the end of 1903, from self-imposed exile in the Netherlands, the Pierneef family settled once again in Pretoria where J.H. Pierneef soon became involved with the close circle of artist friends of his godfather, the sculptor Anton Van Wouw. They encouraged him to pursue his interest in art, much to his father’s dismay. He met Frans Oerder (1866-1944) who familiarised him with the finer techniques of oil painting, the Dutch-Jewish painter Eduard Frankfort (1864-1920) who specialised in portraiture, interiors and landscape painting, and the Irish artist George Smithard (1873-1919) who introduced Pierneef to the etching technique and who stressed the importance of developing a unique indigenous style.Pierneef was encouraged to work towards his first solo exhibition which took place in October 1913 at the publishers JH de Bussy where his work was well received by the public and critics alike, confirming his growing importance and popularity as an artist.It is well-known that Pierneef regularly went on drawing and painting excursions in the countryside of Pretoria where he delighted in botanising and documenting the veld around him. This interesting early painting illustrates such a trip, possibly to the north of Pretoria where he might have positioned his easel at one of the natural gateways into the town, probably Wonderboompoort or Daspoort. From there, through two cleverly placed small flowering trees, probably fruit trees, the spectator’s eye is drawn across cultivated fields towards the south overlooking the town in the distance. Dominating this otherwise tranquil scenery is an ominous advancing Highveld thunderstorm which the artist presents in swathes of grey green and black, almost consuming the lightness of colour and the cropped loose brushwork in the immediate foreground. Apart from a slight emphasis on the trunks of the flowering trees, Pierneef’s sweeping impressionistic approach to this scene creates an immense sense of visual anticipation.
Eunice Basson
Sources:
De Villiers, R. 1986. JH Pierneef. Pretorian, Transvaler, South African. Catalogue. Memorial Exhibition of Works from the Collection of the Pretoria Art Museum. Pretoria: Pretoria Art Museum.
Grosskopf, JFW. 1945. Hendrik Pierneef. Die Man en sy werk. Pretoria: JL van Schaik.
Nel. PG. 1990. JH Pierneef. His life and his work. Johannesburg: Perskor.
Proud, H. 2002. ‘The Advancement of Art’: The South African Society of Artists and its exhibitors, 1902-1950. Catalogue. Cape Town: Iziko Museums of Cape Town.
Van Niekerk, B. 1942. Kunsgeskiedenis. Skilderkuns. Kaapstad: Nasionale Pers.
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Auction: Historic, Modern & Contemporary Art, 12th Nov, 2017
Aspire’s final auction for 2017 ended the year on a high note with a collection of top historical, modern and contemporary artworks.
A number of superb historic paintings came to auction, dating back to the late nineteenth century. Among them were works by Hugo Naudé, Anton Van Wouw, and Dorothy Kay. A fine collection of mid-twentieth century modern work by South Africa’s best-known artists at auction including Edoardo Villa, Maggie Laubser, Sydney Kumalo and Irma Stern were also on offer. The top lot by value was, however, a contemporary work. A superb drawing by world-renowned South African artist William Kentridge. Drawing from Mine (Soho with coffee plunger and cup) (1991), sold for R5 456 640, a record for a drawing by Kentridge in South Africa.
Viewing
Thursday 9 November 2017 | 10 am – 5 pm
Friday 10 November 2017 | 10 am – 5 pm
Saturday 11 November 2017 | 10 am – 5 pm
Sunday 12 November 2017 | 10 am – 3 pm
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