The William Fehr Collection housed at IZIKO Museums – the Castle of Good Hope and Rust & Vreugd – have been re-visioned with works added from the collection. IZIKO Curator, Esther Esmyol, updates us on the ‘rethinking’ of the collection and exhibition policies relating to the extensive, fragile holdings.
Listen to the Sanlam Arts Round Up on Fine Music Radio FMR 101.3fm every Friday at 17h30
Excited by the works normally, Esther Esmayol tells us why it’s inspiring to rethink the holdings and provide an opportunity for unseen works in the collection to go on show. Esther also provided the fascinating background to William Fehr and his passion for collecting and being a tenacious cultural activist.
Lady Anne Barnard?
At the Castle of Good Hope the works of Lady Anne Barnard are on show, She is well known for the diaries that she kept for the 4 years she lived in Cape Town with her husband, colonial secretary at the Cape of Good Hope, which was then under British military occupation. Lady Anne played official hostess at the Castle with the British Governor, Lord Macartney. She is not as well known as an artist. She focused on watercolors and drawings of the people in Cape Town. These are works on paper and need to be carefully conserved. Lady Anne is currently back in the rooms she used to walk though!
The work of a bather is by an unknown artist, but researchers are trying to establish if this is not a work by Lady Anne herself, who was known to go bathing in a pool, thought to be the one known as Lady Anne’s Bath at Kistenbosch.
Robert and Esther exchange information
At Rust & Vreugd, with the focus being gardens and our floral kingdom, the addition to the collection are the works by botanical artist Ethel May Dixie. She was born in Sea Point in 1876 and the works on view cover the period 1910 to 1920’s. She was the principal artist for Rudolf Marloth’s The Flora of South Africa.
The other surprise additions to the exhibition is the inclusion of modern artworks on a botanical theme from IZIKO’s extensive collections, such as the energised work by Andrew Putter.
No wonder that the walk-about organised by Kate Crane Briggs of Culture Connect was so well received. Lots to see, admire and ENJOY in two very special settings, which are an easy walk apart up Buitekant Street.
Pick up a copy of the 2023 Art, Crafts + Museums Map to find your way and ENJOY!
WHAT: William Fehr Collection
WHERE: Castle of Good Hope, Darling Street | Rust & Vreugd, Buitekant Street, Cape Town 8001
WHEN: see IZIKO Museum Route for details
INFO: Visit  | PHOTO: Esther Esmyol with Kate Crane Briggs
IZIKOÂ MUSEUM ROUTE [G and H ]
The WHAT, WHY & WHERE of the
arts scene in around Cape Town
see the 2023 art craft + museums map
and listen in to the Sanlam
Arts Round Up Fridays @16.10
on Fine Music Radio FMR 101.3f
