Otto Landsberg, 1803-1905: 19th Century South African Artist - by Simon de Villiers

This is a fascinating study of a multi-faceted and gifted man. Born in Germany in 1803, he immigrated with his parents and brothers to South Africa in 1818 and died in the Cape in 1905. In his lifetime of more than a century he waws simultaneously artist, art teacher, musician and successful snuff merchant.

As late as 1952 an art historian wrote that none of Otto Landsberg's paintings had been traced and, had it not been for the generous bequest by his grandson Auguste d'Arte of more than 70 of his grandfather's paintings to the Potchefstroom Museum in 1956, Otto Landsberg's achievements as artist might well have been forgotten.

This is an attempt to put his art back into the perspective which it clearly merits. His canvases depicting early South African life, scenery and personalities are of particular interest to the Africana collector and to those interested in South African art.


    Hardcover. Condition: Good to Very Good.
    Signed by the author on the title page.
    Brown coloured boards with gilted titling on spine. Boards show general signs of shelf wear and rubbing on edges and corners. Corners bumped and scuffed.
    A clean tight copy internally, firmly bound. Pages are tidy and clean. Unclipped.
    Ex Libris pasted on front pastedown.
    B/W and colour photographs throughout.
    Dust Jacket in Good condition, but scuffed and nicked on top and bottom edges and on folds. Small tears along the top and top and bottom edges, with two longer tears up to 8cm on top edge on front fold at spine and front wrap. Creased on the bottom half of the back cover and  bottom corner on front wrap. Covered with protective Brodart book cover.
    Published by Struik, (Pty) Ltd., First Edition, 1974.
    Binding Condition: Good to Very Good.
    Overall Condition: Good to Very Good.
    Size: octavo (8vo) (287 mm x 243 mm x 16 mm)
    120 pages.

An honourable reference work. Ideal for the South African art enthusiast and collector.