Gros, H Ferdinand, fl. 1860 - 1909 (photographer)
Dates
- Existence: fl. 1860 - 1909
Biography
H Ferdinand Gros was of Swiss origin. He arrived in South Africa circa 1869. On July 16th 1870 he was advertising that the Photographic Salon 'will resume again' in the 'Burgherdorp Gazette'. In the 'Diamond News' on March 9th 1872 he announced that he was taking over the studio of Weber and Gros and that he would soon open a 'Superb Salon' at New Rush (Kimberley). The New Rush studio was advertised for sale in 'Diamond News' 13th April 1872. However, this sale appears not to have happened as in 'Diamond News' on October 8th and December 10th 1872 he was still advertising the New Rush studio. He visited the goldfields at Pilgrim's Rest and Mac Mac ('Diamond News' May 9th 1874 and February 13th 1875). He also visited Lydenburg goldfields. In 1877 he set up the 'Photographic Gallery' at the corner of Church Street and van der Walt Street, Pretoria. In 1877 he photographed the Transvaal Annexation Commission at Ulundi House, Pretoria. He also photographed scenes in Pretoria during the First Boer War, which were later bound in to the limited edition (200 copies) of 'News of the Camp' (1880-81). He photographed Chief Sekukuni in 1879. Circa 1888 he made a photographic tour of the Transvaal. He returned to Europe in 1895 and his Pretoria studio was taken over by J. Perrin (Cowan 1978, pp.99-101).
Publications:
Du-Val, C. and C. Deecker (1880-81) 'News of the Camp'. Pretoria.
Gros, H.F. (c. 1888), 'Picturesque aspects of the Transvaal'.
Sources:
Bull, Marjorie and Joseph Denfield (1970) 'Secure the shadow: the story of Cape photography from its beginnings to the end of 1870 '. Cape Town: T. McNally.
Cowan, N. (1978), 'Photograficana of H.F. Gros', 'Africana notes and news'. Volume 23, number 3, pp.99-104.
'Transvaal almanac 1877'.
Found in 6 Collections and/or Records:
Cascades de Mac-Mac (Mines D’Or), 1873 - 1874
190 x 140 mm. Another view of the Mac Mac Falls (see Y3055B/2) with the Blyde River in the background.
Foul’s Rush (Mines d’Or), 1873 - 1874
189 x 142 mm. A view looking along a valley with a small stream, with diggers searching for alluvial gold in the foreground. Several feet of topsoil have been removed near the stream bank and the underlying boulders exposed. The wooden sluices for separating gold from earth can be seen beside the water.
Gué sur la Rivière du Vaal pres des Mines de Diamants, 1873 - 1874
189 x 142 mm. Showing a small cutter, a ferry and a dug-out canoe moored on the bank of the River Vaal. The ferry, a rectangular platform floating on wooden barrels, is carrying a wagon and a buggy and a number of passengers.
Mac-Mac Falls 80ft, 1873 - 1874
190 x 142 mm. Showing the Mac Mac Falls which lie just east of the main gold workings, with an African seated on the grass in the foreground.
Macheeka Faal, 1873 - 1874
190 x 142 mm. Showing the sheer drop of the Macheeka Falls over a rockface into a pool below. With a European figure lying on the grass in the foreground. Exact location unidentified, but presumably in the Pilgrim’s Rest area where the Highveld plateau drops sharply to the plains below.
Tour de Jeppe: Mines D’ Or, 1873 - 1874
191 x 142 mm. Showing the vertical tower of rock protruding above trees with a valley beyond. Exact location unidentified, possibly at the northern head of the Blyde Canyon.
Filtered By
- Subject: Transvaal (general region) X
Additional filters:
- Subject
- Vaal (river) 1