Early art exhibition by Maud Sumner in the MacFadyen Memorial Hall

An early archival photograph dating to 1945 from the Afrikaans newspaper named, "Die Brandwag" 8(382) on 6 July 1945. Between the years 1931 to 1951 the University of Pretoria held numerous art exhibitions in the MacFadyen Memorial Hall in Pretoria. This early image depicts one of the temporary exihitions of artworks by the South African artist, Maud Sumner (1902-1985). Short biography: Maud Frances Eyston Sumner (1902-1985) was born in Johannesburg and spent her formative years in her hometown. After matriculating in South Africa she went to Oxford to study Literature in 1922, where she obtained her master's degree. After that she studied painting at the Westminister School of Arts. In 1926, Sumner moved to Paris to study at the L'Académie de la Grande Chaumière in the Montparnasse district of France. She was highly influenced by Maurice Denis and George Desvallières. Her first solo exhibition was held at Galerie Druet in Paris in 1932. Sumner was diagnosed with a peculiar nerve disorder known as Guillaume Barré syndrome whilst in Paris in 1978. She opted to return to South Africa to continue her work as an artist and poet up until her death in 1985 at her home in Johannesburg.