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Darwin
Darwin
The 8 Most Famous Frans Oerder Paintings, Each One of a Kind
Updated November 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 8 works by Frans Oerder in our catalogue
In short
Darwin (1903) is the Frans Oerder painting that draws the most eyes; the original belongs to the University of Pretoria Museums, Tshwane. After it, the eye goes to Still-life (1900) and Brabant Woman Peeling Potatoes (1915). Among the 8 works of Frans Oerder in our catalog, these 8 are the most famous, each a unique original presented with its year, its museum and the reason it endures.
1867 – 1944, Rotterdam
Most works: University of Pretoria Museums
Top 10 paintings by Frans Oerder, through the gallery's eye
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Still-life
In this 1900 composition, a heavy metal bowl with a gilded rim sits upon a wooden table. The bowl contains a collection of fruit, while several other pieces are scattered across the timber surface. Apples and oranges occupy the space around the central vessel. The light enters from the side, catching the edge of the gold rim and casting shadows across the grain of the wood. The skins of the…
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Magersfontein
In the delicate, translucent layers of Frans David Oerder’s watercolor Magersfontein, we find more than just a depiction of a landscape; we encounter a profound testament to human endurance. Created at the dawn of the twentieth century, this evocative work captures a quiet, stolen moment amidst the turbulence of the South African War. The scene unfolds within a rugged, rocky terrain, where a group of individuals seeks refuge under a…
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Our Camp at Magersfontein
A drawing titled Our Camp Magersfontein by the Dutch / South African artist Frans David Oerder (1867-1944) was drawn on somewhere at the beginning of 1900. During the South African War (1899-1902) Oerder was paid by the Transvaal Government to paint scenes from the war. He was captured early on and stayed in Pretoria where he painted the everyday life of the British in the capital. On 11 December 1899…
The museums that keep Frans Oerder's originals
The 5 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by Frans Oerder | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 University of Pretoria Museums |
Tshwane | 3 | Darwin, Magersfontein, Our Camp at Magersfontein |
 Zuylen Castle |
Stichtse Vecht | 2 | Portrait of Lucile Agnes van Lynden (1889-1978), Portrait of Frederik Christiaan Constantijn van Tuyll van Serooskerken (1886-1958) |
 Iziko South African National Gallery |
Cape Town | 1 | Still-life |
 Noordbrabants Museum |
's-Hertogenbosch | 1 | Brabant Woman Peeling Potatoes |
 City Castle Zaltbommel |
Zaltbommel | 1 | Portrait of Gasthuistoren, Zaltbommel. Oil on canvas in a profiled gilded frame. Signed Frans Oerder, 1930-1940. |
Frans Oerder across the decades: one unique original for each
Works per decade
Pick a decade to see the original that defines it.
1890s
Our Camp at Magersfontein
Age 23 – 32
1 work this decade
A drawing titled Our Camp Magersfontein by the Dutch / South African artist Frans David Oerder (1867-1944) was drawn on somewhere at the beginning of 1900. During the South African War (1899-1902) Oerder was paid by the Transvaal Government to paint scenes from the war. He was captured early on and stayed in Pretoria where he painted the everyday life of the British in the capital. On 11 December 1899…
1930s
Portrait of Gasthuistoren, Zaltbommel. Oil on canvas in a profiled gilded frame. Signed Frans Oerder, 1930-1940.
Age 63 – 72
1 work this decade
Frans Oerder's paintings: questions for the gallery
What is the single most famous work of Frans Oerder?Reveal the answer
Darwin (1903), University of Pretoria Museums, Tshwane. Still-life (1900) and Brabant Woman Peeling Potatoes (1915) come next.
At what age did Frans Oerder create Darwin?Reveal the answer
36 years old: Darwin dates from 1903, and Frans Oerder was born in 1867.
How many works by Frans Oerder are known?Reveal the answer
Our catalog holds 8 works by Frans Oerder, dated from 1899 to 1935.
Where can the most famous Frans Oerder originals be seen?Reveal the answer
Mostly in University of Pretoria Museums (Tshwane), Zuylen Castle (Stichtse Vecht) and Iziko South African National Gallery (Cape Town). The museum table above lists them all.
During which period did Frans Oerder create the best-known paintings?Reveal the answer
In 1900s: 3 of the 8 works on this page were made then, Darwin among them.
Which famous Frans Oerder painting is the earliest, and which the latest?Reveal the answer
On this page, the earliest is Our Camp at Magersfontein (1899) and the latest Portrait of Gasthuistoren, Zaltbommel. Oil on canvas in a profiled gilded frame. Signed Frans Oerder, 1930-1940. (1935).
What Frans Oerder originals can I see at the University of Pretoria Museums?Reveal the answer
Darwin, Magersfontein and Our Camp at Magersfontein: the University of Pretoria Museums, Tshwane holds 3 of the works on this page.
Frans Oerder: a portrait of the artist
**early life and education**
frans david oerder, a renowned dutch-born south african landscape, still-life, and portrait painter, etcher, and lithographer, was born in rotterdam, netherlands in 1867. he was the youngest of seven children to johannes carolus oerder, a municipal employee. from 1880 to 1885, oerder studied art at the rotterdam academy, where he won the prestigious king william iii gold medal and bursary.**artistic career in south africa**
in 1890, oerder emigrated to the south african republic, initially working as a house painter and decorator. he later painted poles along the delagoa bay railway line. during the 1890s, oerder was one of only three artists in south africa with recognized professional training. he took up the position of art teacher at the staatsmeisjesskool and rented a studio in church street east. * **war artist**: with the outbreak of the anglo-boer war in 1899, oerder was appointed official war artist by president paul kruger. * **sketches and paintings**: his sketches and paintings from this period are held at the war museum in bloemfontein, the africana museum in johannesburg, and the art collection of the university of pretoria.**later life and return to netherlands**
* **post-war period**: after the war, oerder traveled and painted along the east african coast, contracting malaria during the trip. * **return to netherlands**: in 1908, he returned to the netherlands via italy, settling in brabant before moving to amsterdam, where he married a fellow painter, gerda pitlo, in 1910.**legacy and notable works**
* **magnolias**: oerder's painting "magnolias" was sold to the new york graphic society, becoming one of the most popular images ever and achieving record sales for the society. * **portrait of jan smuts**: he received several important commissions, including painting the portrait of jan smuts.- view frans david oerder's artworks on OriginalUniqueArt.com
- read more about frans david oerder on wikipedia
- explore the greatest artists of all time on OriginalUniqueArt.com