Dora May Sperryn (1877 - 1966)
Parents: James Neville Sperryn & Eliza Newson JenkinsBorn: 16.May.1877 in Lambeth, London Died: December.1966 in South Africa
Our artist Aunt lived in Morningside Durban, South Africa. She was a tall, slender, genteel , single lady who was close to her sister Alice. As Chairlady of the Natal Arts Society, she was well known on the Durban Art scene.
She traveled around Natal, painting beautiful scenery when inspired.
Some of her original water color paintings comprised:
1916 BOAT ON A BEACH along the North Coast of Natal. S.A. There is a fisherman , smoking a pipe while he seems to be mending his sails. Nearby is a tin shanty which was probably used to shower with a bucket of water and change in. Two ladies are walking along the beach who were likely to be family. They are all wearing hats as it is extremely hot on the North Coast. The rock formation, shape of gulley and narrow sandy area are typical of the North coastline. There is a steep sand-dune on the right and a gently sloped dune with flora. There also appears to be another shack beyond that which is partly visible.
Even today the non-swimming beaches are peaceful with few people around. In 1916 people simply camped and slept on any dune area that was fairly sheltered, enjoying fun holidays and the beautiful weather. Wyndham and Isobel Sperryn owned a plot of land at Ballito beach area and this scene may have been near their property.
When working as a Nursing Sister at Parklands Hospital in Durban, I met a young lady who was related to them on Isobel's side. She said that as a child, she spent happy times with Clive, Graeme & Fiona at Ballito. She remembered sleeping in a tin shack on the beach and when it rained, they loved listening to the pattering on the roof!
This painting came to light again in 2010 when a gentleman was having a painting reframed and Aunt Dora's painting was discovered hidden behind his own. What a stroke of luck that her name was still clearly visible so that we were contacted and kindly given the painting by the elderly couple. It was such a lovely surprise and seemed meant as it was near Melville's 60 th birthday. We showed them the other 3 paintings and as the signature was the same, it appears to be authentic!
FIRST 'HOUSE' ON OLD FORT ROAD, DURBAN
This was a railway carriage which someone adapted into a home in which he/she lived in the shade of a leafy tree. It appears to be in early Durban days when Old fort Road was probably just a sandy pathway for carriages and their horses. Aunt Edith Goble, nee Sperryn, gave us this information. This painting may have historical significance.
1921 BRIDGE OVER UMBILO RIVER, SARNIA, DURBAN
This stone bridge still remains in use today, accessing the Faerydene Hotel nearby.
It is still a beautiful green belt area with abundant bird life.
1921 TSHAKA'S ROCKS, Natal North Coast,
Aunt Dora could have been visiting her family at Ballito when she painted these rocks as they are located in that area. Today there is a beach called Shaka's Rock Beach. TSHAKA was the old zulu spelling but today it is spelt SHAKA. This is a famous site as Shaka was a great Zulu King. The area was called Zululand in those days. It became incorporated into Natal province and today is known as KWA-ZULU NATAL. Legend has it that King Shaka used these rocks to execute people and then push them into the sea but there is no historical evidence to support this. He is very famous as a brilliant General, warrior and war tactician. There is a beautiful movie about the life of Shaka and when our Durban International airport was moved to the North Coast, it was named King Shaka international airport. We also have a splendid complex called USHAKA made with typical thatch roofs right on Durban's Addington beach. which houses our Aquarium, Dolphinarium and shipwreck restaurants.
Aunt Dora was sweet natured and very kind to everyone. She gave these paintings to Wilfrid and Ingrid who in turn gave them to us. We reframed them to become a set and are very grateful to have these 'family memorabilia'.
When visiting her, Ingrid Anne, Wilfrid Geir and Melville Einar always used to get a set of crayons or paint sets as presents. She treated children gently and with such kindness that it was always a joy to visit her.
Unfortunately she became partially blind towards the end of her life (possibly due to paint toxins). She corresponded regularly with the family and will always be remembered as the genteel artist Aunt.
Melville & Monica Sperryn
September, 2013
Durban, South Africa
Her grave is in the Stellawood Cemetery and Crematorium, Durban, Kwazulu-Natal.
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