A common heritage / an appropriated history: The Cape Dutch preservation and revival movement as nation and empire builder

Journal Article

2007

Permanent link to this Item
Authors
Journal Title

South African Journal of Art History

Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Publisher

University of Cape Town

License
Series
Abstract
The Cape Dutch architectural revival at the time of the Union of South Africa in 1910 points to more than just an emerging interest in building preservation and the Arts and Crafts rural ideal germane to English architectural circles of the time. Cape Dutch architecture, and the gable of Groot Constantia in particular, was used as a symbol to establish a common European heritage that could transcend the animosities of English and Afrikaans South Africans and help forge a new white 'nation'. A closer reading reveals that Cape Dutch architecture, as history and as style, was appropriated by English architects at the Cape as the contribution South African architecture could make to the British Empire.
Description

Reference:

Collections