The Old Town House was built in Cape Town in 1755 under Governor Rijk Tulbagh as Cape Town’s first public building. Baerendt Artois, a member of the Court of Justice, laid the first stone on this site.
Located in the heart of the city on Greenmarket Square, the early Rococo-style building has served as a police station, magistrate’s court, a Burgher Watch House, the Burgher Senate and until 1905, Cape Town’s City Hall.
In 1914 the Old Town House became the city's first art museum housing the Michaelis Collection donated by Sir Max Michaelis.
The Old Town House has been used for corporate meetings and receptions and the beautiful courtyard for film shoots, wedding photographs and outdoor receptions.

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​All my works are available as high quality prints on non-archival paper or on stretched canvas.
Visit the online gallery here to view my available work.
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Place your order
by phone / whatsapp on +27 79 247 7532
by email to [email protected]
contact me below or inbox me on facebook: Solly Gutman Scratchboard Art

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The Lutheran Church in Strand Street in Cape Town is the oldest church building in South Africa, dating back to 1792. It was declared a National Monument in 1949.

It is one of a unique group of eighteenth century buildings, the others being Martin Melck House and Sexton's House. These buildings are of particular historical importance as they symbolise the long drawn-out struggle of the Lutherans for the right to practice their religion.

When the Dutch first settled at the Cape in 1652, the Dutch East India Company limited the colonist's freedom of worship to the Dutch Reformed faith. However, for many years Lutheran worship was held in a hall, erected by a wealthy merchant, Martin Melck. The building was officially described as a warehouse. However, although the colonial administrators were aware of the actual use of the building, they chose to turn a blind eye.

In 1776 the hall was transferred to the congregation by Martin Melck. It already contained an organ, a communion chalice and a lectern in the form of a swan with outstretched wings: the symbol of Lutheranism. Another swan was proudly displayed above the entrance.

In 1779, following a number of petitions from German, Danish and Scandinavian officials in the Cape, the Company relented and decided to grant the Lutherans the right to form their own church. In the following year, Andreas Kolver of Rotterdam became the first Pastor. During the next four years considerable improvements were made to the hall, but it was mainly during the years 1787 to 1792 that the building was transformed and beautified. This was done by the leading Cape sculptor of the time, Anton Anreith. He designed the front elevation, but his main contribution was the decoration of the interior by his excellent wood carvings. The most important of these works were the magnificent pulpit supported by two great male figures and the choir-stalls with a carving of King David in high relief.

In 1818 the church had to be rebuilt to a considerable extent because of the poor condition of the walls and the roof. At this time a spire was built, but unfortunately there were deviations from Anreith's design which robbed the facade and entrance of much of their former beauty. There have been few alterations to the church since. The spire with its belfry rises almost from street level, while the original old railings offer brave resistance to the encroachment of the city. The same slate path which so many churchgoers have used over the years still leads from the gate to the paved entrance porch. Inside, the sense of devotion is enhanced by Anreith's incomparable pulpit, the historic old pews, the lovely copper basins and font. Here the Church Archives and the valuable communion plate are also preserved.

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For more images of Early Cape Town, take a look in the gallery.
All works are available as high quality prints on non-archival paper or on stretched canvas.

Place your order
by phone on +27 79 247 7532
by email to [email protected]
or inbox me on facebook: Solly Gutman Scratchboard Art

There is usually a 7 day turnaround time.

The Bo-Kaap, formerly known as the Malay Quarter, with its adjacent areas constitutes the largest concentration of pre 1850 architecture in Cape Town. Its unique character has long been acknowledged as an asset to the Mother City. With its colourful single and double storey houses and its inimitable character, Bo-Kaap has become a favourite for tourists. The area was built between 1790 and 1840, and its architecture is a fusion between Cape Dutch and British Traditions.

I have captured many images of Bo-Kaap over the years. This one, Chiappini St & Wale Street, is one of my earliest and remains very popular. The images are available on canvas or as prints in various sizes.

Visit my online gallery for more images of iconic buildings and places in and around Cape Town, botanical works and images of African animals and birds in both monochrome and colour.

All images are available as high quality prints on non-archival paper or on ready-to-hang stretched canvas.
Click here for prices.

Contact me:
by phone / whatsapp on +27 79 247 7532
by email to [email protected]

Gympie Street, Woodstock
Once a small fishing hamlet, Woodstock began life as Papendorp in the mid-1800s, before land reclamation in the 1950s destroyed the magnificent Woodstock Beach. With the increasing English influence after the British occupation of the Cape, the name was changed to the more Anglicised New Brighton before finally becoming Woodstock. But the British influence remains strong in the road names, such as Victoria and Albert, and the rows of brick terraced and semi-detached houses that would not be out of place in an English town.
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Visit my online gallery for more images of iconic buildings and places in and around Cape Town, botanical works and images of African animals and birds in both monochrome and colour.

All images are available as high quality prints on non-archival paper or on ready-to-hang stretched canvas.
Click here for prices.

Contact me:
by phone / whatsapp on +27 79 247 7532
by email to [email protected]