The William Fehr Collection in Cape Town
The William Fehr Collection – an Art Gallery taking you back in time
When: Mon-Sun 09:00-16:00/Closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day
Where: Castle of Good Hope and Rust en Vreugd, Buitenkant Street opposite the Grand Parade
Tel: 021 467 7223
Fee: Adults R30/0-5yrs Free/5-18yrs R15/SA Students R15/SA Pensioners R15
On Sundays: Adults R20/5-18yrs R15/SA Students R5/SA Pensioners R10
What to expect: Paintings, Decorative Art and Artefacts relating to the Cape that date back to late 17th– early 19th century.
William Fehr (1892-1968) was a businessman who had a passion for pictorial art. He started building his collection when there were still few private collectors around and soon his collection grew from paintings, prints and drawings to furniture and other artefacts.
In 1952 William Fehr’s private collection was first displayed at the Castle of Good Hope during the Van Riebeeck Tercentenary Festival. A large proportion was kept on loan until the South African Government purchased his oil paintings, furniture, ceramics, metal and glassware in 1964 and William Fehr donated the rest of his unique collection to government during 1964 and 1965, to be displayed in Rust en Vreugd close to the Castle of Good Hope.
The Castle now houses oil paintings, furniture and decorative arts while Rust en Vreugd houses the art of paper such as prints, drawings and watercolours. Both these buildings have a rich heritage; the Castle being the oldest building in the country and Rust en Vreugd; a marvellous example of colonial 18th century urban architecture.
The collection dates back to the late 17th century right through to the early 19th century…
The history of these eras is richly displayed throughout the entire collection, taking one back to the period of Dutch colonial settlement in the Cape and after 1795, the era of British occupation. Extraordinary historical information regarding the peoples and landscapes of early colonial South Africa is found in the collection and is regarded as one of the most important collections that capture this time and period in the Cape.
Content: Ed Beukes