Pretoria Art Museum
The Pretoria Art Museum focuses on obtaining and preserving great examples of mainly art from the country’s Old Masters, such as Pieter Wenning, Henk Pierneef, Frans Oerder, Anton van Wouw, Hugo Naudé, Irma Stern and Maggie Loubser.
This permanent South African collection now includes work by Gerard Sekota and Judith Mason. The museum has also tried to acquire graphic prints by international artists, to link international art movements to the stages of development of South African art.
After the death of her husband in 1932, Lady Michaelis donated much of the artworks in the Old Masters collection. These were displayed in the Pretoria city hall until the museum was built in 1962. Its architecture – low, concrete and with many technical innovations that gave it an international flavour – stirred much interest as it was way ahead of its time in South Africa.
A hall in the museum was named after the first curator of the museum, Dr Albert Werth, to commemorate his almost three decades of service there. He retired in 1991.
Additions were made to the museum in 1975, and the buildings were upgraded in 1988 and again in 1999 to prepare to host the international exhibition, Leonardo da Vinci: scientist, inventor, artist. An atrium and sculpture garden were added.
Nowadays the museum also features urban and rural art, innovative media and techniques, and hosts major national and international travelling exhibitions. The reference library has a vast collection of books and videos, and the information centre archives newspaper clippings.
Guided tours for groups of a minimum of 10 people are offered when pre-booked. One option covering South African art is run at 10h00 and 13h00, and lasts an hour. Up to 100 learners can be accommodated at a cost of R10 per person. The other choice is a fun-filled two-hour tour for children aged four to 10 at a cost of R20 each.
Visit the museum’s website
Hours
Tuesday to Sunday: 10h00 to 17h00
Closed on Mondays and public holidays
Admission
Adults: R6 and learners R4