January Volschenk

August 20, 1853 (age 82)

Riversdale

Born of Dutch parents on the farm Melkhoutskraal, Volschenk started painting when still a child and was largely self-taught. He eventually joined the firm of Reitz & Versfeld as a bookkeeper. At 51 years of age he gave up his office job and devoted all his time to his oils and canvases. His home district around Riversdale and the Langeberg, was his inspiration and subject matter, and he became a master of the subtle colours and tones of the Karoo mountains. Volschenk"s keen powers of observation spilled over into natural history - he amassed a collection of more than 4 000 beetle specimens. When 45 years old, Volschenk married another Riversdale resident, Helen Smalberger, and they produced a family of nine daughters. Of these, Vera, the eldest, followed in her father"s footsteps and painted in the same genre. 1879 Exhibits four works in Cape Town 1893 Accompanies the Reitz family to Europe and is inspired by the art galleries 1894 Joins the South African Drawing Club and exhibits with them 1899 Marries Helen Smalberger of Riversdale 1904 Gives up office work and devotes full attention to painting 1936 Suffers a stroke and dies in Riversdale South African National Gallery, Cape Town Johannesburg Art Gallery Pretoria Art Museum Durban Art Gallery William Humphreys Gallery, Kimberley Air Corps White Gallery, Bloemfontein Albany Museum, Grahamstown.

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painter

Career

Born of Dutch parents on the farm Melkhoutskraal, Volschenk started painting when still a child and was largely self-taught. He eventually joined the firm of Reitz & Versfeld as a bookkeeper. At 51 years of age he gave up his office job and devoted all his time to his oils and canvases.

His home district around Riversdale and the Langeberg, was his inspiration and subject matter, and he became a master of the subtle colours and tones of the Karoo mountains.

Volschenk"s keen powers of observation spilled over into natural history - he amassed a collection of more than 4 000 beetle specimens. When 45 years old, Volschenk married another Riversdale resident, Helen Smalberger, and they produced a family of nine daughters.

Of these, Vera, the eldest, followed in her father"s footsteps and painted in the same genre. 1879 Exhibits four works in Cape Town

1893 Accompanies the Reitz family to Europe and is inspired by the art galleries

1894 Joins the South African Drawing Club and exhibits with them

1899 Marries Helen Smalberger of Riversdale

1904 Gives up office work and devotes full attention to painting

1936 Suffers a stroke and dies in Riversdale

South African National Gallery, Cape Town

Johannesburg Art Gallery

Pretoria Art Museum

Durban Art Gallery

William Humphreys Gallery, Kimberley

Air Corps White Gallery, Bloemfontein

Albany Museum, Grahamstown.

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