It is with great sadness that La Motte’s owner Hanneli Rupert-Koegelenberg and CEO Hein Koegelenberg share news of the death of Marita Pierneef-Bailey, the daughter of famed South African landscape artist, JH Pierneef and a dear friend of the family.

Marita passed away peacefully on Tuesday, 18 June 2019 from her house in the British town of Dartmouth. Born on 4 April 1927, she reached the blessed age of 92.

“Marita’s love for her father and respect for his life’s work resonate so strongly with me”, says Hanneli Rupert-Koegelenberg. “Not only was she the inspiration to bring her father’s personal collection back to South Africa, we also became good friends over the years. We will miss her dearly.”

Pierneef’s adoration of the South African landscape and his appreciation of the country’s diversity are celebrated through La Motte’s premium Pierneef Wine Collection, the Pierneef Art Collection in the La Motte Museum as well as Pierneef à La Motte Restaurant.

Hein Koegelenberg concludes, “Marita was our connection to Pierneef and we treasured our personal relationship with her. We think of her family and loved ones in this difficult time.”