Who was Frans David Oerder?

In 1899, Frans Oerder was commissioned by Paul Kruger to be the official war artist of the Transvaal Republic.  Oerder was educated in Rotterdam and emigrated to the Transvaal in 1890.  Like many other Hollanders of that time, Oerder worked on the Delagoa Bay Railway line - his line of work - painting signal poles.

During the Anglo Boer war Oerder painted, and sketched, scenes of life and nature at the battle front.  The image above shows the Apies River, which runs through Pretoria.  Oerder painted this picture whilst a prisoner of war in 1902.  Today most of his paintings and sketches are housed at the Anglo-Boer War museum in Bloemfontein.