During the 17th and 18th century a small number of Italians settled in South Africa, but it was only in during the gold rush, that their numbers increased appreciably.
By for example, there were between and Italians in the Cape Colony and towards the end of that decade about in the Transvaal. Many of them were miners, builders and businessmen. However, not all of the Italians were workmen and shop owners - there were also professionals among them such as doctors, lawyers, engineers and also artists. There were between 3 and 4 Italians in South Africa by When South Africa became a Union in the building industry blossomed.
Two new capital cities, Cape Town and Pretoria, had to be provided with public buildings. For example a great many stonemasons, bricklayers and decorators worked on the construction of the Union Buildings in Pretoria - many of them were Italian.
On the forefront were the families Carleo mechanical industry , Lupini building material , Gallo railroad construction and Rossi, Beretta and Lombardi farmers.
At the Congress of the Federation of Afrikaans Cultural Societies Federasie van Afrikaanse Kultuurvereniginge in representatives from several monument committees and other interested organisations under the chairmanship of doctor E. Jansen met in Bloemfontein. After thorough deliberation it was eventually decided to erect the monument in Pretoria and the SVK assigned the architect Gerard Moerdyk to design it.
The design was approved in and tenders were submitted for the construction. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on Monument Hill on 13 July Advocate E. Jansen, chairman of the SVK, turned the first sod. Progress with the excavations and foundation was already well on the way by February and tenders for the construction was obtained.
The construction started early in and the cornerstone of the Voortrekker Monument was laid on 16 December as the highlight of the Central Centenary celebrations in Pretoria. After the onset of the Second World War in construction came to a standstill whereupon Cosani wanted to be discharged from the contract because he was not strong enough financially to complete the construction. Most of his security was in Italy where he also had to obtain a lot of the machinery and tools.
The tender for the completion of the construction was accepted from the firm W. As a result of the war there was an increase in the loss of white workers and from 12 black workers were used to mix the concrete and clean the site from Statue: Woman and children. At the base of the Monument there is a statue of a Voortrekker woman and her two children. Moerdyk gave pride of place to the Voortrekker woman, because without her contribution the Great Trek would not have lead to lasting settlement.
The sculptor was Anton van Wouw - This sculpture group was his last commission as he was already nearly 76 years old. The Woman and children is 4. What makes this bronze sculpture group unique is that it is the first public sculpture that was cast in one piece in bronze in South Africa. The Woman and children was removed from the base of the Voortrekker Monument in by the same firm in Pretoria and cleaned - the first time that it was done.
He stayed in Johannesburg initially but later moved to Pretoria West where the sculpture group of the Voortrekker woman and children was cast in bronze on 5 August For this task Renzo Vignali called for the help of his father, Gusmano Vignali - Gusmano arrived in South Africa early in and also helped his son to cast the Coert Steyberg statue of Louis Botha in front of the Union Buildings. The Vignali foundry moved to Pretoria North in where it is still in business. The Vignali Foundry played an important role in the art history of South Africa - during the first 27 years of its existence it was the only foundry in South Africa specializing in the casting of works of art.
This brought about high costs and delays. Hendrik Joubert, an employee of the Vignali foundry, started his own business in and since then several independent foundries have seen the light. The pioneering work in this regard was however done by the Vignali Foundry. Renzo Vignali unexpectedly died in , leaving his wife Vittoria and daughter Gabriela behind. Thereafter, Luigi Gamberini - an employee of Vignali and a former Italian prisoner of war from Zonderwater, continued the business. Search our Attractions Directory to find the perfect backdrop for your holiday selfie.
All Rights Reserved. Find and book hotels and accommodation in South Africa. I want to go to About Voortrekker Monument The Voortrekker monument was built in honour of the great Voortrekkers or pioneers, who left the Cape during the period to to cut through the interior of the country in what became known as the Great Trek.
Did you know? The Cenotaph Hall at the Voortrekker Monument houses a tapestry of more than three million stitches that pictures the tribulations of women and childen Voortrekkers, and includes a collection of historical flags and objects of historical significance. Need to Know. Disclaimer Please note, business details can change. Groenkloof Nature Reserve. Voortrekker Monument.
Voortrekker Monument Nature Reserve. Self Catering. Guest House. Chateau Vue Guesthouse Conveniently located close to shopping centres, restaurants and nature reserves, Chateau Vue Guesthouse provides comfortable accommodation in Era Pretorius Place Situated in Lytteldton Manor, Pretorius Place is a spacious and fully equipped apartment conveniently located close to major freeways.
Want to stay overnight? Why book with SA-Venues. No airy fairy service fees; you save! We care. Service with integrity. The Cenotaph, situated in the centre of the Cenotaph Hall, is the central focus of the Monument. In addition to being viewable from the Hall of Heroes it can also be seen from the Dome at the top of the Building, from where much of the Interior of the Monument, can be Viewed. Through an opening in this Dome, a ray of Sunlight shines, at twelve o'clock on 16 December Annually, falling onto the Centre of the Cenotaph.
The ray of Light is said to symbolise God's Blessing on the lives and endeavours of the Voortrekkers. Against the Northern Wall of the Hall is a niche, with a Lantern in which, a flame has been kept burning ever since On both sides of this sculpture black Wildebeest are chiselled, into the Walls of the Monument.
The Wildebeest Symbolically depicts the dangers of Africa and their symbolic flight implies that the Woman; Carrier of Western Civilisation, is Triumphant.
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