Notes

‘Painted 7 September 1918. The fort is Fort Knokke, originally built by the Dutch in 1744 as the terminal fort of the sea defence lines which ran along the beach from the Castle to Fort de Knokke, as it was originally known. Later in 1781 when the French occupied the Cape they built the French defence lines from Fort de Knokke running at right angles to the sea lines. In 1827 when most of the old forts were demolished Fort de Knokke was completely refurbished and modernised and made into a key defence position. During the First World War it was fitted with guns suitable for sea defence, but after the war became neglected and abandoned.’

Stephan Welz (1989) Art at Auction in South Africa: Twenty Years of Sotheby’s/Stephan Welz and Co 1969-1989, Johannesburg: A D Donker, page 99.

Provenance

Stephan Welz & Co in Association with Sotheby's, Johannesburg, 6 November 1984, lot 112.

Literature

Stephan Welz (1989) Art at Auction in South Africa: Twenty Years of Sotheby’s/Stephan Welz and Co 1969-1989, Johannesburg: A D Donker, illustrated in colour on page 99.