Archived

Late Gqeberha artist's portrait set to sell for pretty penny

5 Apr 2022

Kay, 77, acquired her initial art training at the Royal Hibernian Academy in Dublin, Ireland. After settling in Gqeberha in 1916, she became best known as a painter and especially a portraitist, producing numerous quirky selfportraits, family portraits and 23 official portraits of the mayors of the city. Hobart’s interest compelled his wife to paint a lifesize standing threequarter figure, The Boxer’, in satin shorts and gloved hands on hips After her death in 1964, Kay’s work became sought after with some pieces such as Salt, Variations on a Theme and Self Portrait with Red and White Scarf selling at a similar price tag. Her piece titled Old Oyster Woman sold for R1.44m in 2009. According to the auctioneers Strauss & Co, Kay’s husband, Hobart, was an avid yachtsman, soldier and sportsman with a particular interest in boxing, so much so that their children were all taught the art of pugilism. Hobart’s interest compelled his wife to paint a lifesize standing threequarter figure, The Boxer, in satin shorts and gloved hands on hips. One of the couple’s four children, Marjorie Reynolds, recalled how Hobart would sometimes be a sparring partner at workouts at the Tyrone Hotel in South End. “At night we children would sit in an alcoholically fumeladen room, watching the terrible punishment this heavyweight boxer would inflict, on one occasion breaking some of Hobart’s ribs,” Reynolds said. “The hotel was run by Mr Joe Pearce, a keen weekend painter. “From his hotel, Dorothy painted in 1922 The Lighthouse of Donkin Reserve as seen from South End. “Some of Dorothy’s fish market subjects were painted from outside the hotel where a busy fish market was held daily.”

The Boxer, who stares directly at the viewer with his tattooed butterflies, eagles, daggers, hearts and other images on his upper arms, articulates something about the way masculinity and social status were defined at the time. The master printmaker and illustrator produced more than 44 etchings over the course of her career and illustrated adventure stories in weeldy magazine Outspan for more than 18 years. According to Strauss & Co’s website, Kay’s collection, comprising 72 lots, is worth about R3.9m, of which almost 60% is already sold with prices ranging from a few thousand to more than Rim. The art category of the auction can be viewed virtually, from 6pm.

The Boxer’, is expected to fetch at least R350,000 when it goes under the hammer today.