Anton Pieter Van Wouw

Place: Dutch Reformed Parish Of Driebergen

Born: 1862

Death: 1945

Biography:

Anton van Wouw was a Dutch-born South African sculptor regarded as the father of South African sculpture. He was born on 27 December 1862 in the Dutch Reformed Parish of Driebergen, Netherlands. He moved to Pretoria, South Africa in 1890 at the age of 28 and waited for ten years to receive his first commission. This was from financier Sammy Marks to create a monumental statue of Paul Kruger, which stands on Church Square. During his time spent in the wilderness he developed a great admiration for the Boer nation and identified with the struggles and hopes of these people, which was reflected in his work. He died on 30 July 1945 in Pretoria, South Africa.