Portrait of Prof AE du Toit

An oil painting created in 1984 of Prof Anthonie Eduard du Toit by the South African artist, Nico Roos (1940-2008). Prof AE du Toit was the third Principal (Rector) of the University of Pretoria and his tenure stretched between 1927 and 1934. The official collection of portraits and the foundation of the Principal's portraiture collection began on 9 September 1974 as an institutional collection. Prof Adriaan Nicolaas Pelzer suggested that the University begin a collection of portraits of previous Chancellors, Chairs of the Council and Principals. Between 1974 and 2010, the line-up of former Principals and Chancellors were completed, a tradition that is still ongoing with new appointments at the University of Pretoria. Short biography: Nico 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, watercolour, 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 of 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.