Ferlov Mancoba
1998-08-12
Afsender
Guy Butler
Modtager
Ernest Mancoba
Dokumentindhold
Guy Butler is writing a book about some of the nuns at Grace Dieu Diocesan College, South Africa, where Ernest Mancoba studied. He asks if Mancoba carved an ecclesiastical object for a South African Cathedral and he encloses photographs that he thinks may interest Mancoba including of Mancoba holding a bust of himself [researcher clarification: bust carved by another artist]
Transskription
Dear Ernest Mancoba
I am a retired professor of English at Rhodes University with poetic and artistic interests. Over the last four years I have written a book called The Prophetic Nun - 1. Sister Margaret C.R. - 2. Sister Pauline C.R. - 3. Sister Dorothy Raphael C.S.M.V. (Dorothy Maud)
I enclose a copy of Chapter 4, which sketches your relationship with the first two and with Sister Mariya, and the last pages of the book, which consist mainly of quotations from yourself.
I would be most grateful for any corrections or comments. I have been greatly helped by the work of Dr Elsa [sic: Elza] Miles.
During my research I made the acquaintance of Sister Mariya MacAllister, who, as a novice in 1936, looked after you, and visited you in Paris some time after the war. We became good friends. My last visit to her was on 30th July. She died three days later, of cancer. Rest in Peace.
One of the reasons for my visit to her was to show her the missal-stand from the Cathedral, to ask her if she remembered you carving it. She said she could not, but that you might well have done it. The unmistakably African features of all the figures were in keeping with the theory and practice of both Sister Margaret and Sister Pauline. She also added that you used to worship at the Cathedral of St Michael and St George.
My action sprang from a conversation in which Mrs Michael Whisson reported that Professor Colin Bundy, (now vice-chancellor of Wits), had told her husband that during your visit to U.W.C. to receive your Doctorate, you had said that there was a work of yours in Grahamstown Cathedral.
Research through the minute books and other church records - which are seldom very well kept - has so far brought nothing to light.
In a matter as important as this, one cannot rely on hearsay. I enclose photographs of the missal-stand [researcher note: this photo was not included with the letter]. I hope your answer will be "Yes. It is my work."
You may also be able to answer the question: "Who commissioned and accepted the gift?" Because it must have been done by someone who had the desire and the power to replace a "European" missal-stand with an indubitably African piece.
However it came about, it has been used whenever mass is said at the High Alter since 1936! If it is by you, Chapter 4 will have to be altered and a photograph included.
Sister Mariya told me that you used to stand at the back of the Cathedral during worship. You will be pleased to hear that the congregation is now thoroughly mixed and that the curate is Xhosa.
I enclose some pictures, which may be of interest to you. With regard to the picture of you holding the bust of yourself, did you do the modeling? Where was it done? In the Art School? What happened to it?
With many thanks for your work and witness and with every good wish.
Yours sincerely,
I am a retired professor of English at Rhodes University with poetic and artistic interests. Over the last four years I have written a book called The Prophetic Nun - 1. Sister Margaret C.R. - 2. Sister Pauline C.R. - 3. Sister Dorothy Raphael C.S.M.V. (Dorothy Maud)
I enclose a copy of Chapter 4, which sketches your relationship with the first two and with Sister Mariya, and the last pages of the book, which consist mainly of quotations from yourself.
I would be most grateful for any corrections or comments. I have been greatly helped by the work of Dr Elsa [sic: Elza] Miles.
During my research I made the acquaintance of Sister Mariya MacAllister, who, as a novice in 1936, looked after you, and visited you in Paris some time after the war. We became good friends. My last visit to her was on 30th July. She died three days later, of cancer. Rest in Peace.
One of the reasons for my visit to her was to show her the missal-stand from the Cathedral, to ask her if she remembered you carving it. She said she could not, but that you might well have done it. The unmistakably African features of all the figures were in keeping with the theory and practice of both Sister Margaret and Sister Pauline. She also added that you used to worship at the Cathedral of St Michael and St George.
My action sprang from a conversation in which Mrs Michael Whisson reported that Professor Colin Bundy, (now vice-chancellor of Wits), had told her husband that during your visit to U.W.C. to receive your Doctorate, you had said that there was a work of yours in Grahamstown Cathedral.
Research through the minute books and other church records - which are seldom very well kept - has so far brought nothing to light.
In a matter as important as this, one cannot rely on hearsay. I enclose photographs of the missal-stand [researcher note: this photo was not included with the letter]. I hope your answer will be "Yes. It is my work."
You may also be able to answer the question: "Who commissioned and accepted the gift?" Because it must have been done by someone who had the desire and the power to replace a "European" missal-stand with an indubitably African piece.
However it came about, it has been used whenever mass is said at the High Alter since 1936! If it is by you, Chapter 4 will have to be altered and a photograph included.
Sister Mariya told me that you used to stand at the back of the Cathedral during worship. You will be pleased to hear that the congregation is now thoroughly mixed and that the curate is Xhosa.
I enclose some pictures, which may be of interest to you. With regard to the picture of you holding the bust of yourself, did you do the modeling? Where was it done? In the Art School? What happened to it?
With many thanks for your work and witness and with every good wish.
Yours sincerely,
