Giuseppe Catty | 1914–1994
Giuseppe Catty, born Giuseppe Cattaruzza, was an Italian-born South African painter whose evocative landscapes have earned him an enduring following among collectors of traditional South African art.
Born in Auronzo, Italy, in 1914, Catty began painting at just fourteen and later studied art in Venice. He held his first exhibition in 1934 and continued exhibiting successfully before the Second World War dramatically altered the course of his life. After serving in Africa and spending time as a prisoner of war in Egypt, he chose to remain in Africa, eventually establishing himself as a professional artist and gallery owner in Pretoria.
Catty became best known for his atmospheric oil landscapes, depicting the extraordinary variety of the South African countryside. Cape villages, rugged coastlines, blue gums, mountain passes, the Drakensberg and Natal landscapes appear repeatedly in his work. His style is broadly impressionistic, combining confident brushwork with luminous skies, warm colour and carefully constructed perspective.
There is an appealing tranquillity to his paintings. Rather than simply recording a location, Catty captured its light, scale and atmosphere, giving familiar South African scenes a romantic yet recognisable character.
His long painting career produced a substantial body of work, and original Catty paintings continue to trade through established South African auction houses. Strauss & Co records works ranging from Cape and Natal landscapes to coastal scenes and blue gums, demonstrating the breadth and continuing collector interest in his work.
For collectors, Giuseppe Catty offers an attractive combination of history, technical skill and unmistakably South African subject matter.
The Art Collective is proud to offer a selection of original works by Giuseppe Catty.
