Important South African & International Art, Decorative Arts & Jewellery

Live Auction, 6 March 2017

Important South African and International Art - Evening Sale

Sold for

ZAR 90 944
Lot 494
  • Tinus de Jongh; De Dam, Amsterdam


Lot Estimate
ZAR 80 000 - 120 000
Selling Price
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
ZAR 90 944

About this Item

South African 1885-1942
De Dam, Amsterdam

signed and dated 1912

oil on canvas
64 by 84cm excluding frame

Notes

'In 1912 Tinus was commissioned to paint a number of pictures for the Royal Ancient Society and Borough Archives of Amsterdam. These works comprised a large number of scenes of the old city centre with the purpose of preserving and recording various disappearing landmarks and these are still in the Beeldarchief in Amsterdam.

There were canals which were destined to be filled in and the famous monument, the "Naatje op de Dam" was scheduled to be dismantled prior to the rebuilding of the Dam Square which was renovated and re-opened on 7 April 1914.

A great honour was conferred upon Tinus when, he says, "Permission was given to me by Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands (Wilhelmina) to work in her palace for three months". The paintings, as a result of this work, were bought by the Amsterdam Museum.

Although there is no evidence that Tinus lived at the Palace, permission was granted to paint from the windows on 24 February 1912. All members of the De Jongh family confirmed that their father took up residence in the Palace for three months and, as his uncle was gynaecologist to the Queen, an unofficial concession may have been made.' (Weckesser, pages 28 and 29)

Literature

cf. Pat Weckesser in association with the De Jongh Family. (2013) Tinus de Jongh: His life and works, Cape Town: MJ de Jongh. Page 25 where an etching of this subject is illustrated with the title De Dam in 1912 from inside the Royal Palace

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