Strauss & co - 4 February 2013, Johannesburg

481 Pieter Willem Frederick WENNING SOUTH AFRICAN 1873-1921 Washday, Malay Quarter, Cape Town signed oil on canvas 24,5 by 19,5cm R300 000 – 400 000 PROVENANCE Mev HG Mackeurtan, Durban LITERATURE J du P Scholtz, DC Boonzaier en Pieter Wenning : Verslag van ‘n Vriendskap , Tafelberg, Kaapstad, 1973, page 116, plate 70 We know that Wenning painted this charming scene between 16th and 28th July 1917. In correspondence between the artist and DC Boonzaier dated 28 July 1917, the latter indicated that since Wenning had moved into his new room in the city twelve days previously, he had produced two small paintings of the Malay quarter of which this is one. 1 In Washday, Malay Quarter, Cape Town the old man with white beard, green robe and red fez in the foreground not only establishes the Islamic identity of the area but the colours with which he is portrayed are echoed in subtler variations throughout the painting. The Prussian blue, taupe and salmon façades are all enlivened by the use of a madder red to define the architectural details of doors, posts and window frames. The teal tones in the road and foreground wall 481 176