Boer encampment

A drawing titled Boer encampment by the Dutch / South African artist Frans David Oerder (1867-1944) was drawn on 29 October 1899. During the South African War (1899-1902) Oerder was paid by the Transvaal Government to paint scenes from the war. He was captured early on and stayed in Pretoria where he painted the everyday life of the British in the capital. This is one of the drawings created by him during the war. In the background Lombaards Hill can be seen which dates this drawing late October, early November of 1899. Although Oerder was paid to paint the battle scenes, he was much more interested in painting the everyday life of the Boer Forces. Here he drew a small Boer encampment close to the siege that was laid at Ladysmith in KwaZulu Natal. Short Biography: Frans Oerder was born in Rotterdam in the Netherlands came to South Africa in 1890. He was mostly known for painting landscapes, still-life and portraits. After the South African War Oerder returned to The Netherlands in 1908 where he settled and married fellow painter Gerda Pitlo in 1910. In 1938 with a second war looming in Europe, Oerder returned to South Africa where he passed away in 1944.