Strauss & co - 16 October 2017, Cape Town

267 583 Johannes Meintjes SOUTH AFRICAN 1923-1980 Young Swazi signed and dated 1951 oil on board 38 by 31cm R  –   PROVENANCE The Collection of Evan Robertson, to whom the artist dedicated his book Stormberg - Lost Opportunity: The Anglo Boer War in the North Eastern Cape Colony, 1899 - 1902. EXHIBITED Schweickerdt Art Gallery, Pretoria, 19 to 20 August 1952, catalogue number 7. DS Vorster Art Gallery, Pretoria, 18 February to 1 March 1958, catalogue number 12. South African Art Association Gallery, Cape Town, 4 to 15 March 1962, catalogue number 21. Rand Afrikaans University, Johannesburg, Prestige Memorial Exhibition, 7 June to 6 July 1990, catalogue number 21. South African Arts Association of Arts, Pretoria, Prestige Memorial Exhibition (jointly with Alexis Preller), 6 to 23 August 1990. LITERATURE Dagboek van Johannes Meintjes: Deel III: April 1951 - Junie 1955. (1975) Molteno: Bamboesberg-Uitgewers. Page 201, catalogue number JM 345. Johannes Meintjes, Dagboek III , 18 August 1951, page 25 (translated from Afrikaans): “The drive from the border to Pigg’s Peak is one of the the most magnificent I have ever experienced. I almost knocked Reg out of the car with excitement - in the first place the Swazis in their decorative loin cloths and colourful shawls with beautiful designs, the green on green of the shrubbery, the trees covered in blossoms, coral trees heavily laden with their clusters of red blooms, the rolling mountains with the quality of green velvet, the streams and the aloes - everywhere you encounter colour and design to die for. White cattle egrets on red cows, green- white blossoms, purple earth. And on top of it all, a permeating atmosphere of happiness, warmth and friendliness. Every Swazi greeted us with a raised hand and a beautiful smile.”