Die Johannesburgse Stasiepanele / The Johannesburg Station Panels
Die grootste en bekendste openbare opdragwerk wat J H Pierneef ten uitvoer gebring het, is die Johannesburgse Stasiepanele. Pierneef het albei die betrokke argitekte, Gordon Leith (’n lewenslange vriend sedert laerskooldae) en Gerhard Moerdijk, goed geken, dus is daar voor die amptelike aankondiging oor die opdrag, in Julie 1929, met oorlegpleging begin. Die werk was monumentaal wat skaal sowel as volume betref, met 28 skilderye van Suid-Afrikaanse natuurtonele en historiese plekke wat elk ‘n ruimte van ongeveer 146 x 132 - 152 cm moes beslaan. Daarby was daar ook nog vier panele van 145 x 31 cm elk met inheemse bome as tema.
Die panele moes teen die gewelfde mure van die stasiewandelhal hang, elk op sy aangewese plek op ’n hoogte van 4,25 m. Die vierkantige vorm en die hoogte waarop die panele vertoon sou word, het Pierneef voor die uitdaging gestel om die landskappe dienooreenkomstig te herbedink en beplan, gedagtig daaraan dat dit van ver en van onder besigtig sou word.
Eers het hy die mees geskikte tonele vir die stasiewandelhal gekies. Destyds was die bevordering van toerisme ná sowel as ín Suid-Afrika die verantwoordelikheid van die Suid-Afrikaanse Spoorweë en Hawens. Dus het die panele ’n bykomende praktiese doel gehad, en moes Pierneef ook die beskermheer se belange in ag neem. Of hy dít met ál 28 panele reggekry het, is vatbaar vir bespreking omdat hy in daardie stadium reeds ’n spesiale of emosionele band gehad het met sekere skilderagtige plekke en terreine wat as onderwerp in sy werke gebruik is.
Sy benadering tot die skilder van die panele was om met verskeie voorsketse en -tekeninge van die gekose tonele te begin en die beplanning het sowat 18 maande geduur. Deesdae word verskeie olieverfwerke wat die tonele van ‘n spesifieke paneel uitbeeld in private sowel as openbare versamelings aangetref. Die meeste van die werke dateer van voor 1932 en is dus moontlike voorstudies, soos in die geval van Premiermyn (1932).
The largest and most well-known public commission carried out by J H Pierneef is the Johannesburg Station Panels. Pierneef was acquainted with both architects who were involved, Gordon Leith (a lifelong friend since primary school days) and Gerhard Moerdijk. Therefore, consultation in respect of the commission was under way before the official announcement about the commission, in July 1929. The work was monumental in both scale and volume, comprising 28 paintings of South African natural scenes and historical places that each had to cover a space of approximately 146 x 132 - 152 cm. In addition, there were another four panels of 145 x 31 cm each, with indigenous trees as a theme.
The panels were to be displayed on the arched walls of the station concourse, each in its allocated space at a height of 4,25 m. The square format and the height at which the panels were to be displayed presented Pierneef with the daunting task of reconsidering and planning the landscapes accordingly, bearing in mind that they would be viewed from a distance and from below.
He first selected the scenic views most suited to be displayed in the station concourse. At the time, the advancement of tourism, both to and within South Africa, was the responsibility of the South African Railways and Harbours. Therefore, the panels were to serve an added practical purpose, and Pierneef had to bear in mind the interests of the patron, too. It is debatable whether he managed to succeed in this with all 28 panels, as he was at that stage already favourably or emotionally attached to certain scenic spots and places that had served as subjects in his work.
His approach to painting the panels was to start with several preliminary sketches and drawings of the selected scenes — planning took about 18 months. Today, various oils portraying the scenes of specific panels form part of both public and private collections. The majority of these predate 1932 and may, therefore, be preliminary studies, for example, Premier Mine (1932).
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Die lewe en reis van die JHB Stasiepanele / The life and journey of the JHB Station Panels: |
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Nov. 1932 |
Pierneef dien sy vergoedingseis vir die opdrag in. Pierneef submits his claim for reimbursement for the commission. |
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26 Nov. 1932 |
Die panele word aan die publiek bekend gestel. The panels are unveiled to the public. |
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1932-1947 |
Op hulle plek om bewonder en geniet te word, en hul bemarkingsdoelwit te vervul. In place to be admired, enjoyed, and fulfilling their marketing objective. |
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1947-1948 |
Die eerste skoonmaak en restourasie is deur Pierneef onderneem. Nadat dit voltooi is, is die panele vir beskerming agter glas gesit. The first cleaning and restoration were undertaken by Pierneef. After completion, the panels were placed behind glass for protection. |
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1948-1960 |
Op hulle plek om bewonder en geniet te word. In place to be admired and enjoyed. |
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1960-1963 |
In dele van vier panele na die nuwe voorstedelike binnehof van die stasie verskuif. Moved, in sections of four panels, to the new suburban inner court of the station. |
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1971 |
Die tweede keer dat die panele skoongemaak is, tesame met minimale restourasiewerk. Omdat Pierneef reeds in 1957 oorlede is, is die taak deur Mej J van Tilburg (Pretoriase kunsrestourateur) onderneem. Cleaned for a second time, with minor restoration work done. As Pierneef had passed away in 1957, this was undertaken by Miss J van Tilburg (Pretoria art restorer). |
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1973 |
In die Pretoriase Kunsmuseum (PAM) uitgestal. On display in the Pretoria Art Museum (PAM). |
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1974-1979 |
In die PAM bewaar. Stored in the PAM. |
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1979 |
Na die nuut geopende Suid-Afrikaanse Spoorweë Museum en Kunsgalery in die oorspronklike JHB-stasie verskuif. Moved to the newly opened South African Railway Museum and Art Gallery in the original JHB station. |
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1981 |
Suid-Afrikaanse Spoorweë en Hawens staan nou as die Suid-Afrikaanse Vervoerdienste bekend. South African Railways and Harbours are known now as South African Transport Services (SATS). |
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Aug. & Sept. 1986 |
Gedeeltelike bruikleen aan die PAM vir Pierneef se eeufees- herdenkingsuitstalling. Loaned in part to the PAM for Pierneef’s centenary commemoration exhibition. |
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Sept. 1987 |
Die Johannesburgse Kunsmuseum (JAG) verkry goedkeuring vir die permanente bruikleen van die panele, op grond van ‘n lekkasie in die Spoorwegmuseum wat veroorsaak het dat laasgenoemde lokaal ongeskik vir die uitstalling geword het. Die bruikleentyd is later beëindig toe die panele vanaf die uitstaallokaal na ‘n bewaarlokaal verskuif is. The Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG) obtained permanent loan of the panels, as the room in the Railway Museum started leaking and was no longer suitable for displaying. Later, the lease period was terminated, and the panels were removed from permanent display to be stored elsewhere. |
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1990 |
Die Suid-Afrikaanse Vervoerdienste word ‘n publieke maatskappy met die totstandkoming van ‘n groot vervoernetwerk genaamd TRANSNET. The South African Transport Services become a public company with the formation of a large transportation network named TRANSNET. |
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2002 |
Dr Anton Rupert word deur TRANSNET genader vir onderhandelings t.o.v. permanente bruikleen van die panele aan die Rupert Kunsstigting. Dr Anton Rupert is approached by TRANSNET to negotiate the permanent loan of the panels to the Rupert Art Foundation. |
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2002-2009 |
Al 32 panele word in die Jan Rupert Sentrum op Graaff-Reinet uitgestal. Tydens die uitstalling staan die sentrum as die Pierneef Museum bekend. All 32 panels are exhibited in the Jan Rupert Centre at Graaff-Reinet. During the exhibit the centre is known as the Pierneef Museum. |
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2009 |
Restourasie van die kapel (Pierneef Museum). Restoration of the chapel (Pierneef Museum). |
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Aug. 2010 – |
Die panele word in die Rupert Museum op Stellenbosch uitgestal. The panels are exhibited in the Rupert Museum, Stellenbosch. |
Bronne / Sources:
Coetzee, N J. 2002. J H Pierneef: Die Stasiepanele / The Station Panels. Rupert Art Foundation.
Exhibition brochure. 1990. Jacob Hendrik Pierneef (1886 - 1957); The Johannesburg Station Panels. Johannesburg Art Gallery.
Welz, S. 2010. Pierneef-panele by die Rupert Museum, Stellenbosch. Openingstoespraak.
SARH. 1979. Pierneef. Souvenir brochure of paintings.
Archive of the TRANSNET Heritage Library Collection.
Nel, P G (eds). 1990. J H Pierneef: His life and his work. p77 - 80, 142 - 148.
