Mapungubwe

A landscape oil painting titled, Mapungubwe by the South African artist Nico Oswald Roos (1940-2008). The painting was completed in 1996 and depicts the scene of Mapungubwe Hill, now part of the cultural landscape of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The painting was commissioned by Prof. Danie Joubert (Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of Pretoria from 1982-1991) for the front cover of the publication by the archaeologist A. Meyer titled, 'The archaeological sites of Greefswald' published in 1998 by the University of Pretoria.
Short biography: Nico Oswald Roos grew up in the town of Upington and in 1950, at age 10 moved with his parents to the then, South West Africa (today Namibia). Roos is regarded as a postwar and contemporary painter of landscapes and abstract pictures and he worked in various media such as oil, acrylic, watercolor, gouache and wash, and drew in ink, pencil and charcoal. He studied privately in Windhoek in Namibia under Otto Schröder and then at the University of Pretoria under Zakkie Eloff where he gained a Bachelor of Art in 1963 and then his Master of Art in 1970. In 1969, Roos furthered his informal studies under Adolph Jentsch who was a strong guiding influence on his work, they remained firm friends for life. As from 1969, Roos lectured art history at the University of Pretoria, where he established the Fine Art Department in 1972. Roos also lectured in history at the University of Potchefstroom and received his Doctor of Philosophy in 1974 at the University of Pretoria. Roos held his lectureship until 1999 when he retired at his farm in the Khomas – Hochland of Namibia. In 1978 Nico Roos published a book, 'Art in South – West – Africa' this academic project became the first and seminal study on Namibian art. In 1983, Nico Roos became Commissioner to the Valparaiso Biennale held in Chile. In 1991 the University of Pretoria held a retrospective exhibition of his works and he was presented with a Silver University Medal by the Principal of the University in recognition of outstanding achievements. In 1998, he was bestowed the Medal of Honor for painting by the South African Academy of Arts and Science – the highest award made to an artist in South Africa. Roos held over 20 solo and various group exhibitions in Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa as well as an auction multiple times. His art can be found in several key South African collections such as the Arts Association Namibia, Pretoria Art Museum, University of the Orange Free State, University of Pretoria, University of South Africa and the William Humphreys Art Gallery in Kimberley. Roos retired in 2000 and moved back to Namibia where he passed away due to a heart attack at his last exhibition in 2008. Nico Roos was regarded as one of South Africa's and Namibia's most important artists.