Strauss & co - 16 May 2011, Johannesburg

104 Pieter Wenning The paintings of Pieter Wenning, a grossly underrated artist in the opinion of Stephan Welz, are exciting much interest amongst art collectors with At Claremont, CP having sold for R1 782 400 at Strauss & Co’s March 2011 sale in Cape Town, establishing a new record for the artist. Landscape Bishop’s Court was painted when Wenning was in Cape Town from June until August 1916 and working productively. D. C. Boonzaier, journalist and cartoonist for De Burger and Wenning’s mentor and greatest supporter, observes in his diary entry: Nou volg vir Wenning ‘n vrugbare week. Op 25 Julie maak hy in Bishopscourt ‘n klein skilderytjie “in brown, green and white; a few old houses, with the dense forest in the background” (nr 11 in lys op bl. 31-32 – Pl. 34). 1 Because Wenning had to return to Pretoria for Van Schaik’s wedding, an impromptu exhibition was held in Boonzaier’s office in the Burger building in Keerom Street to enable sponsors to view and select work and other interested parties to purchase paintings. Boonzaier comments: Miss Nita Spilhaus, Miss Ruth Prowse and Miss Woods (of the Argus) call together to see the work. They are full of enthusiasm and Miss Spilhaus says Wenning must throw up his present work and take up painting as a profession. They all select the large Bishop’s Court as one of the best things in the collection. 2 In the list of works sold, Boonzaier notes this painting as Ou Huisie teen Agtergrond van Digte Bome, Bishopscourt , states that it was painted on 25 July and purchased by F. K. Kendall for £4-4-0. 3 Francis Kaye Kendall was an architect in the celebrated firm, Herbert Baker Kendall and Morris. Kendall, with his educated eye and refined sensibility, was clearly drawn to this image of vernacular Cape architecture. 215 Pieter Willem Frederick WENNING south african 1873–1921 Landscape, Bishops Court signed; signed and inscribed with the title on the stretcher on the reverse oil on canvas 22 by 32 cm R500 000 – 800 000 Painted on the 25th July 1916 provenance Max Sachar literature J. du P Scholtz, DC Boonzaier en Pieter Wenning. Verslag van ‘n Vriendskap , Cape Town, 1973, page 31 and illustrated page 103, plate 34.