{"title":"Solly Manthata","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"university-of-cape-town-solly-manthata","title":"'University of Cape Town' - Solly Manthata","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDimensions: 132 x 92 cm (Framed)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMedium: Oil and Acrylic on board\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis striking architectural landscape by Solly Manthata, titled \u003ci\u003eUniversity of Cape Town\u003c\/i\u003e, is a masterful depiction of the institution's iconic Upper Campus, executed in a mixed-media technique of acrylic and oil on canvas board. The painting employs a broad, wide-format to encapsulate the full sweep of the university's classical facade and its dramatic mountainous backdrop. The canvas board substrate provides a stable, textured surface that accommodates the artist's layering technique.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition is characterised by a powerful juxtaposition of human architecture and natural monumentalism. The classical architecture of the Jameson Hall and surrounding faculty buildings is rendered with a heightened color saturation, utilising warm tones of red, ochre, and yellow to create a lively counterpoint to the natural scenery. This vibrant colorism is achieved through the combined effects of the fluid acrylic base and the rich, expressive finish of the oil paint.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe spatial recession is brilliantly achieved through three distinct planes: the meticulously manicured lawn and grand stairway in the foreground; the brightly lit, centralised buildings; and the imposing natural forms of the Devil's Peak and Table Mountain in the background. The mountain, rendered with textured impasto and in earthy greens and purples, dominates the upper register. Above, the sky is a vivid, sweeping expanse of brilliant blue, detailed with atmospheric white cloud formations, contrasting sharply with the earthly elements below.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eManthata utilizes his signature style to imbue this familiar landmark with a sense of dynamic, expressive Realism. The painting functions as an enduring commemorative vision of the university, celebrating its place within the majestic Cape Town landscape and appealing to collectors of iconic South African architectural and urban landscapes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInternational Shipping available and charged on a quote basis - Please email partnersgalleryza@gmail.com for enquiries.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Partners Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52009393946940,"sku":"ART005","price":5700.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/5057\/2860\/files\/23_7e7c7236-d0d6-4ea5-8c92-107781e18567.png?v=1755521384"},{"product_id":"karoo-farm-solly-manthata","title":"'Karoo Farm' - Solly Manthata","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDimensions: 107 x 47 cm (Framed)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMedium: Oil and Acrylic on panel\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eKaroo Farm\u003c\/i\u003e by Solly Manthata is an evocative mixed-media landscape, executed in acrylic and oil on board, that captures the vast, soul-stirring expanse of the South African Karoo, rendered in a striking Romantic Realism style. The work utilises a dramatic wide-format to emphasize the immense horizontality of the scene, a defining characteristic of the Karoo. The stability of the board substrate allows for the artist's robust application of paint, enhancing the texture and durability of the piece.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe painting is dominated by a stunning portrayal of atmospheric perspective and vibrant colour temperature. The artist masterfully captures a moment near sunrise or sunset, defined by a spectacular sky where warm oranges, pinks, and yellows transition into cooler blues and greys. The use of both acrylic (likely for underlying structure) and oil (for rich blending and saturation) contributes to the work's vivid, layered depth and luminosity, particularly in the dramatic celestial display.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition is anchored by a central vanishing point along the homestead road, which guides the viewer's eye deep into the middle ground toward the distant mountains and farm structures. The foreground is rich with texture and colour, featuring golden scrubland dotted with patches of impressionistic pink and yellow wildflowers. The presence of small, dark cattle near the middle ground introduces a sense of scale and pastoral tranquility.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eManthata’s bold application of paint and dynamic light across the composition elevates this regional scene to a level of profound beauty and emotional resonance. \u003ci\u003eKaroo Farm\u003c\/i\u003e is not merely a representation; it is a celebration of the unique light, color, and quiet majesty of the South African interior, making it a compelling piece for collectors of contemporary African landscape art.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInternational Shipping available and charged on a quote basis - Please email partnersgalleryza@gmail.com for enquiries.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Partners Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52009406005564,"sku":"ART013","price":9500.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/5057\/2860\/files\/24_f5a1c1ad-0677-4abf-b289-0abbca9351aa.png?v=1755521565"}],"url":"https:\/\/partnersonlinegallery.com\/collections\/solly-manthata.oembed","provider":"Partners Online Gallery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}