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Enjoy this video with some shots of the new-look suites and spaces.
Keep an eye out for the new Valley Walk where we will be offering picnics as well as an easy hike through the old mud brick quarry and the fynbos valley at the back of the estate. The path will lead to the Outlook where one can see Swellendam, Railton and the rolling hills of the Overberg. It is a road less travelled with great reward at the end.
Photographer: Lady Alice Mary Kerr (d. 1892)
‘Portrait of Wilfrid Scawen Blunt, early 1860s’
This strikingly intense portrait of the poet, diplomat, hedonist and anti-imperialist Wilfrid Scawen Blunt was taken by Lady Alice Mary Kerr, a member of his social circle and daughter of the 7th Marquess of Lothian. Little is known of Kerr’s photographic activities or connections, but this image in particular identifies her as a remarkably skilled portrait photographer.
The notebook in which this portrait is contained also includes a number of studies of Blunt’s sister Alice, dressed to illustrate historical and literary figures such as Joan of Arc and the Lady of Shallot. Albumen print
Jane Bown (born 1925) is a British photographer who has worked for The Observer newspaper in the United Kingdom since 1949. Her portraits of the famous of the 20th and 21st centuries have received critical acclaim, earning her an exhibition of her work in the National Portrait Gallery in London in 1980.
She comments: ‘Now that’s what I call a jackpot picture – a good face, the simplicity of black and white, direct eye contact, nothing extraneous, and an intense, intelligent expression. The portrait would probably have required a long exposure and I think this gives the face an added intensity as does the very shallow depth of field – only the face is in focus really. The defiance and contrariness which got Scawen Blunt into endless trouble in his later life is clearly visible.’
Claudia Gurwitz was born in Cape Town. She is a yoga teacher and contemporary artist. She also lives in Riebeek Kasteel and is one of the nicest people you will ever have the pleasure of meeting.
Amongst several other adventurous destinations, Claudia has made 2 trips to India to expose herself to, and explore the roots of the yoga discipline and its founding culture.
After her 9 year sojourn into the healing arts,Claudia felt an urgency for a creative outlet in addition to her holistic disciplines. In June 2005 she returned to painting, joining classes at Spencer Street Studios with Julia Teale.
Claudia draws her inspiration from the power and potency of the natural environment. Her paintings are explorations of the unique, underlying energy each plant has to offer. Her colours and forms of plants and flowers have surprising strength and vitality. She finds beauty in often over-looked things such as the humble pinecone, and relates powerfully to their energetic structures. She plunges into these forms, breaking them down towards near abstraction.
Claudia’s vast experience in the holistic therapy field has finely tuned her intuitive processes and sensitized her to the underlying essence of the subject matter she depicts, thus these depictions, rather than resulting in photo- realism, tap into the holistic, subtle energies of her subjects. The outcome is large, bold afrocentric works containing definite, sometimes sculptural forms and strong design element with vibrant, rich colour.
Jo Orr creates the most beautiful animal heads that looks great in any environment. It is ‘instant decor’. Look out for one of Jo’s heads in some of our suites soon! Head On also got some really great press recently with both House and Leisure and the Property Mag covering the heads. So far Jo has made a Kudu head & Buffalo. I heard a rumour that she is tackling the Sable and Gemsbok next with the Rhino planned for last.
This image is from House and Leisure’s June issue. On sale now.
