JACK PIETERS (1886-1977) 'La Provence, French Hoek (Franschhoek) South Africa'

JACK PIETERS (1886-1977) 'La Provence, French Hoek (Franschhoek) South Africa' A view of Huguenot style houses, signed and dated 1946 lower left, titled verso, further inscribed "To Vernon Berry from the Bothner Family, '54" verso, oil on canvas, 50cm x 68cm Jack Pieters was born in Amsterdam in 1886. He studied art under his uncle, Evert Pieters at the Quelinius School, Amsterdam. In 1904 he came to South Africa with his family and since he was unable to earn his living as a painter, joined the South African Railways for whom he worked until his retirement in 1949. Pieters lived in Pretoria and Cape Town before settling in Durban. He painted in his spare time, was twice elected to the Presidency of the Natal Society of Arts and for many years was art critic for The Natal Mercury, writing under the nom-de-plume "Cerulean Blue". Pieters participated in group exhibitions in South Africa and Europe from 1924 and his work is represented in many South African art galleries. In 1951 he was commissioned by the South African Cricket Association to paint pictures of South African cricket grounds and four of these paintings were presented to the MCC and hang in the Memorial Hall, Lords, London. In 1930 Jack Pieters married Joyce Wayne of Durban and they had one daughter, Joy. Jack died in Durban in November 1976.