Artist Profiles
Charles Theodore Villet
1896 – 1963
B.A.(Sc.) (Cape), M.A., M.D. (T.C.D.), F.R.C.S. (Irel.)
A Wynberg surgeon of exceptional skill who painted the Cape for a lifetime — and almost never signed a canvas.
Charles’ life
Dr Charles Theodore de Mornet Villet was born in Cape Town in 1896. He qualified as a medical doctor in Cape Town, specialised in Ireland, and practised in Wynberg for many years, earning a reputation as a surgeon of exceptional skill. After he retired he settled in Worcester and continued with his hobbies of collecting succulents and painting.
He was generally known as Mornet. He and his wife were deeply involved in collecting succulents, discovering many new species between them. They had two children: a son who became a photographer and worked mainly abroad, and a daughter, Cynthia, who is also a talented artist and lives in Kenilworth in Cape Town.
Dr Villet died in Barbados in 1963, whilst visiting his daughter who was living there at the time.
At the easel
He painted for many years in watercolour, capturing Cape Town scenes that can never be repeated, and in oils on a variety of surfaces — mostly board and canvas-covered board, often painted on both the front and the back.
He was an extremely competent artist, experimenting with and following the impressionist style. Like his forebear Jean Villet, he seldom signed his work.
How an unsigned Villet is authenticated
- Much of his work remains unsigned, so provenance is established on the reverse of the painting rather than on its face.
- Many pieces carry a studio rubber stamp on the reverse, authenticated by his daughter and reading “Cynthia Villet for C T Villet”.
- The works in this collection are authenticated by ourselves in consultation with Cynthia Villet, and are rubber stamped.
- A certificate of authenticity is supplied with each painting. Every work is numbered and recorded as such.
The Villet family in the Cape
The Villets were originally French. Four generations of them dealt in, drew and painted the natural world of the Cape.
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1797
Charles Mathurin Villet, Charles Theodore’s great grandfather, arrives from Haiti and settles in Cape Town. An impresario and dealer in natural history material, he works from an establishment at 42 Long Street, on the corner of Wale and Long.
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1819
He establishes a menagerie in Green Point known as Aux Champs de Fleurs, visited by many travellers from abroad.
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1823
The South African Museum opens. He is a major contributor of exhibits.
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1856
Charles Mathurin dies on 8 June.
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Mid-1800s
His son Jean (Carolus Johannes) Villet takes over the business, and teaches and illustrates Cape plants — sending a study of Orothamnus zeyheri to Kew Gardens. He did not sign his work.
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1896
Charles Theodore de Mornet Villet is born in Cape Town, and in time takes up the family habit of painting the Cape without putting his name to it.
Paintings by C T Villet are available through the gallery, each one numbered, recorded and supplied with its certificate.
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15 Aberdeen Road , Newlands, 7700
+27835410476
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