Publisher's brown softcover with black titles on front panel.
51 pages of text, being a descriptive catalogue for the 94 reproductions on plates in text.
Binding tight. Contents clean.
This is the first Johannesburg Art Gallery (J.A.G.) catalogue. It is an early Johannesburg printing rarity that affords a fascinating glimpse into the wealth of art treasures that were already accumulated by the Johannesburg municipality a mere 24 years after the Golden City was founded.
In his introduction to this catalogue Hugh Lane affirms that part of the reason for establishing a gallery of modern art in Johannesburg was to "remove forever the stigma that its citizens are concerned with naught else than the amassing of fortunes."
He mentions that there were not yet any of the great works by the Old Masters in the gallery due their present day fabulous prices, and that a single one of such works would be more valuable than the whole collection. The Committee of Trustees, which included Dr. Engelenberg, Sir Lionel Phillips, Sir Herbert Baker and Mrs. A. E. Balfour, decided therefore to first put together a collection of representative modern art - modern by 1910's standards - and hoped that "a public-spirited owner of a great collection may some day be induced to lend, give or bequeath his collection to the Gallery".
Lane was not too impressed with certain acquisitions made by the Gallery and mentions that, although they were acknowledged works of art, there are different styles for different temperaments, "The only works, therefore, that should not be encouraged are the products of mediocrity. I should like to say here that I am not responsible for the choice of a few of the pictures in the Gallery, the inclusion of which I regret."
Among the list of early donors there appear the familiar names of individuals who owed their wealth to the city, Sir Lionel Phillips, Mr. Otto Beit, Sir Julius Wernher, Mr. Max Michaelis, Abe Bailey and others.
The Gallery was officially opened by His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught, third son of Queen Victoria.
- Binding Condition: Very Good
- Overall Condition: Very Good
- Size: 4to.
- Sold By: Rare Paper
- Contact Person: Armandt Marais
- Country: South Africa
- Email: [email protected]
- Telephone: 0741235861
- Preferred Payment Methods: EFT, Bank Deposit. For International Customers: Paypal with 6% surcharge, International Transfer
- Trade Associations: A. A. Approved
