John McLAREN

Paintings in acrylic, gouaches, watercolours

b. in Edinburgh 1896/1897 - d. in Johannesburg 1973

 


John McLaren, the artist, in about 1935 (self-portrait done in Swaziland)

John McLaren abt. 1935


 

Brief C.V.

 

Born in Edinburgh in 1896 or 1897, John McLaren grew up in Scotland; he came to South Africa as a young man and travelled to Rhodesia/Zimbabwe. By 1926, he was living in Bremersdorp/Manzini, Swaziland.

John McLaren served as Officer in the Rhodesian forces, he was an official War Artist during WW2; three of his works are illustrated in colour in "War History of Southern Rhodesia 1939-1945", Vol. 1 (J.F. MacDonald).

After WW2 he lived in Johannesburg for a time, then moved to Cape Town, living at Beach Road in Three Anchor Bay.

John McLaren 1962 one of 3 greeting cards illustrated with his watercolours

Please click on image to see 3 cards from 1961/2!

After his retirement, he moved back to Johannesburg in 1969, staying in Kero Court, Pietersen Street.

John McLaren painted all his life for pleasure, he was also a talented musician and art photographer. By profession, he seems to have been a bookkeeper. He had no family in South Africa.

Most of his works that remained after his death were sold by the executor in 1973, for the benefit of The Star's "Seaside Fund". The balance was sold in abt. 1976 on behalf of a charity at the Hyde Park Shopping Centre, Johannesburg/Sandton, together with his studio equipment, at virtual give-away prices!

 


 

Selected Solo Shows

 

1970 - Gallery 101, Hollard Street, Johannesburg (15th August, 1970) (sold out)

1972 - Gallery 101, Hollard Street, Johannesburg (20th July, 1972)

Cover of 1972 invitation card to the Gallery 101 exhibition by John McLaren

Cover of 1972 invitation card to the Gallery 101 exhibition by John McLaren (click on image for details)

 

1973 - SA Association of Arts, Pretoria (19th March, 1973) - invitation card + exhibition catalogue

John McLAREN exhibition catalogue South African Association of Arts, Pretoria, March 1973

Please click on image for better view!


 

Selected group shows

 

Gallery 101, Rand Central, Johannesburg - “The Nude in 101” - 7th December, 1970

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Gallery 101, Rand Central, Johannesburg - “Winter Art Exhibition 1971” organised by “Group 51” - June 1971

(Cat. 72 “A winter scene – Lowveld” – watercolour R75 + cat. 73 “Still Life with Loquat” – Polymer R100)

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Gallery 101, Hyde Park, Johannesburg - Group Show: Gallery 101's contribution to the Johannesburg Art Gallery Festival (works not shown Joubert Park) - December, 1971

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Gallery 101, Hollard Street, Johannesburg - Watercolours by SA artists - January/February, 1972

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Klerksdorp Art Society, Randles Hall, Municipality of Klerksdorp, Klerksdorp ("South African Painters & Sculptors") (13th March, 1972) (opened by Gabriel Bayman)

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Lidchi Gallery, Cape Town ("Transvaal Artists") - December, 1972

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Group exhibition of paintings arranged by Gallery 101 at the Carlton Centre Johannesburg (Foyer to the Three Ships) in collaboration with the SAAA (Southern Transvaal) - January/February, 1973

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Herbert Evans Gallery, Johannesburg -“Winter Art Exhibition 1973” organised by “Group 51” - 28th August - 7th September, 1973

(Included in catalogue on p. 18 - short CV only, no works listed)

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Gallery 101, Rand Central, Johannesburg - “Winter Art Exhibition 1975” organised by “Group 51” - 22nd July, 1975

(Included in catalogue on p. 19 - short CV and one work listed: cat. 50 “Untitled” – gouache R250)

 


 

Selected early and later works

 

John McLAREN "Trees in Landscape" - signed: McLaren April '42

"Trees in Landscape", 1942 - acrylic - signed: McLaren April '42

John McLAREN "Paw Paw and Lemons" - signed: McLaren 6/13/42

"Paw Paw and Lemons", 1942 - acrylic - signed: McLaren 6/13/42

John McLaren "Woman in a fauteuil reading" - signed: J McLaren

"Woman in a fauteuil reading", undated - acrylic - signed: J McLaren

John McLaren "Sea Point Bay" undated - acryl - signed: J. McLaren

"Sea Point Bay" undated - acryl - signed: J. McLaren

John McLAREN "In the docks Cape Town" - signed J McLaren May '54

"In the docks Cape Town", 1954 - signed: J McLaren May '54

John McLAREN "In the Alfred Basin Cape Town docks" - signed J McLaren IX.LIV (9/54)

"In the Alfred Basin Cape Town docks", 1954 - signed: J McLaren IX.LIV (9/54)

John McLAREN "Luggers, Hastings" - signed: J McLaren

"Luggers, Hastings" - signed: J McLaren

John McLAREN "Mediterranean Enchantment" - signed: "John McLaren"

"Mediterranean Enchantment" - signed: "John McLaren"

John McLAREN "Boats" - signed: J McLaren

"Boats" - signed: J McLaren

John McLaren "A street in the Lowveld" - signed: J McLaren

"A street in the Lowveld" - mixed media - signed: J McLaren

 


 

Other Selected works

 

John McLAREN "Cattle Sheds - Barberton - Tvl - July 1927" - watercolour - 26x36 cm

"Cattle Sheds - Barberton - Tvl" - watercolour 26x36 cm - dated July 1927 - signed: J. McLaren

 

"Farmhouse", June 1934 - pastel 25x35 cm dated June 1934 - signed: J McLaren

"Farmhouse", June 1934 - pastel 25x35 cm - dated June 1934 - signed: J McLaren

 John McLAREN "Fishing boats, Pas de Calais" - gouache - ill. in Arts Calendar March 1973 - SAAA, Pretoria, p.5

 John McLAREN "Fishing boats, Pas de Calais" - gouache - ill. in Arts Calendar March 1973 - SA Association of Arts, Pretoria, p.5

A young visitor with John McLAREN painting at Madame Haenggi Gallery, Johannesburg, 1975

 

Composite of 6 works by John McLaren, ea. 25x27 cm, from the private collection of J.H.

 


 

Published References

 

"War History of Southern Rhodesia 1939-1945" Vol 1 (JF MacDonald), Bulawayo 1947, ill. facing pp. 114, 271, 480

ARTLOOK 47, Johannesburg - October, 1970 - Gallery 101 listing of leading contemporary South African artists, p.30

"Art & Artists of South Africa" (Esmé Berman) (Balkema, 1983) (listed on p. 523 under "Professional exhibitors") - ISBN 0 86961 144 5

 


 

Selected Press reviews

 

Rand Daily Mail, Johannesburg ("Art Shows") - 10th August, 1970

Rand Daily Mail, Johannesburg - 10th December, 1971

Rand Daily Mail, Johannesburg - 14th February, 1972

North West Record, Klerksdorp - 10th March, 1972

The Star, Johannesburg - 30th March, 1972

The Star, Johannesburg - 21st July, 1972

Rand Daily Mail, Johannesburg - 28th July, 1972

Cape Argus, Cape Town - (Transvaal on view in the City) - 3rd December, 1972, p. 15

Rand Daily Mail, Johannesburg - 25th January, 1973

"Arts Calendar" published by the SA Association of Arts, Pretoria - March, 1973

RDM or The Star, Johannesburg - March, 1973 - comment

 


 

Works sold on auction

 

John McLAREN - "Siesta" - oil - 75x57 cm auctioned by Westgate Walding Auctioneers, Johannesburg - 4th March, 2009 - Lot 224

John McLAREN - "Siesta" - oil - 75x57 cm

auctioned by Westgate Walding Auctioneers, Johannesburg - 4th March, 2009 - Lot 224

John McLAREN - "Hastings Harbour with Net Houses", 14th February, 1969 - gouache - 54x69 cm

John McLAREN - "Hastings Harbour with Net Houses", dated 14 2 69 - gouache - 54x69 cm - offered by BidorBuy ID 92189179 as "Mediterranean Village"

John McLAREN - "Slipway Cape Town docks" - gouache - 50x62 cm - offered by BidorBuy ID 92189069

John McLAREN - "Slipway Cape Town docks" - gouache - 50x62 cm - offered by BidorBuy ID 92189069

 

No other auctions of works by John McLaren are recorded at this stage!

 


 

Speciman Signature

 

Specimen signature on a gouache by John McLAREN

 


 

Note:

If you have any further information, data or images on John McLaren, please contact us on this link!

 

We thank the following for missing information supplied:

SA National Gallery, Cape Town - archives

 


Updated 28th October, 2015

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