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Historical Artist - Petrus Anton Hendriks (1899 - 1975)
Petrus Anton Hendriks was born in Rotterdam, Netherlands 1899 - 1975
Art Education
- Petrus Hendriks studied art at Rotterdam Academy and in Paris. Frequently study-trips to
Europe from South Africa.
Short Artist Biography
- 1925 Chance meeting with JH Pierneef, who shared his logging-house in Amsterdam, led to
invitation to visit South Africa and exhibit with him.
- 1926 Petrus Hendriks came to South Africa, stayed in Pretoria; the proposed exhibition did not
take place because he found difficulty in adjusting to the strange, harsh light and thus
confined his painting activities to portrait commissions.
- 1928 – 1933 Petrus Hendriks appointed Principal of Pretoria Tech Art School, but
resigned after five years to concentrate on free-lance work; murals in Johannesburg and
Pretoria.
- 1937 – 1966 Petrus Hendriks applied for and was appointed to the advertised post of
Director of the Johannesburg Art Gallery; during the 30 years of his association with the
Gallery his painting activity decreased, but though he discontinued exhibiting after 1948 he
never ceased entirely to paint – mainly portraiture. Served on War Art Advisory Committee
during World War 2.
- 1964 Petrus Hendriks retired officially from the Directorship of the Gallery, but remained in
an advisory capacity for three further years.
- 1967 On his retirement was awarded an honorary PH D from the University of the Witwatersrand
for his contribution as Director of the Johannesburg Art Gallery; he became Restorer to the
South African National Gallery and the invaluable experience of pictures gained in 30 years of
museum work remained available to the profession.
- 1975 Was on a visit to Paris partly associated with negotiating a purchase on behalf of the
Johannesburg Art Gallery; suffered a fatal heart attack on a Metro station platform.
Art Exhibitions
- 1936 Empire Art Exhibition, Johannesburg.
- 1948 Overseas Exhibition of South African Art, Tate Gallery.
- 1979 “South African Printmakers”, South African National Art Gallery.
Public Art collections
Pretoria Art Museum; Durban Art Gallery, Rembrandt Art Foundation; South African National Art
Gallery; University of Wits Art Galleries.
Source
Berman, E. 1994. Art & Artists of South Africa . Southern Book Publishers.
Contemporary South African Artists
Art Galleries in South Africa
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