The South African National Gallery is located in Cape Town. Most of the collection, is art from Holland, France and Britain from the 17th to 19th centuries. The collection includes lithographs, etchings and early paintings by twentieth century British artists. The gallery also displays contemporary South African art such as paintings, sculptures and bead jewellery.
At a meeting at the Cape Town Public Library convened on 12 October 1850, it was first proposed to establish a gallery for the display of art. This was the first meeting of the South African Fine Art Association, founded by Thomas Butterworth Bailey and Abraham de Schmidt. The South African Fine Art Association organised the first ever such exhibition in South Africa. Its main objective was to find permanent premises for the National Gallery.
The South African National Gallery was founded in 1872 and its first exhibits were paintings bequeathed from the estate of Thomas Butterworth Bailey. In 1875, the South African Fine Art Association was able to purchase premises at Victoria Street where the major works were exhibited. The building that now houses the National Gallery was built in stages from early 1900 and only officially opened its doors on 3 November 1930.
Notable contributors to the gallery's unique collection included Alfred de Pass, Sir Abe Bailey, Lady Michaelis, Sir Edmund and Lady Davies. In 1937 the building was extended to include works by South African artists. The first paintings for this part of the collection were acquired in 1926 from South African artists Anton van Wouw and Neville Lewis.
Exhibits from the gallery's main holdings change regularly in the gallery rooms to show as many paintings, photographs, sculptures, beadwork and textiles as possible. Temporary exhibitions showcasing contemporary art are also held here.
