Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 9

Nelson Mandela
The Tennis Court - Mandela, South African President, Signed, Robben Island, sport

2003

$10,283.65
£7,500
€8,747.09
CA$14,081.84
A$15,657.09
CHF 8,175.27
MX$190,584.90
NOK 104,312.86
SEK 97,736.17
DKK 65,281.15
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

Nelson Mandela, The Tennis Court, Signed Limited Edition Lithograph Many people are unaware that Nelson Mandela turned his hand to art in his 80's as a way of leaving a legacy for his family. He spent time with an art tutor and learnt to draw. The transformation of the courtyard so the prisoners could exercise playing tennis led Nelson Mandela to mediate on the perversity of being able to play such a civilised sport in so brutal an environment. The motivation reads: “In 1977 forced manual labour was ended after we maintained a two-year go-slow strike. We asked to do something more useful with our days instead of the monotony of mining lime and stone from the quarries. This action, however, robbed us of the opportunity to exercise, and after much effort we convinced the warders to allow us to convert the courtyard into a tennis court. Prior to this, the prisoners were marched round and round the courtyard for half an hour everyday. We used to walk around the courtyard quickly in single file under the watchful eye of the guards. Our persistence paid off and we painted the cement courtyard surface to create a traditional tennis court layout. Strangely, Robben Island was the first opportunity for me to play tennis since university. I was by no means an expert, but the exercise was a welcome break from the walks to and from the quarry and round and round the yard. Being able to exercise one’s mind and body through play was immensely freeing. Playing tennis and attending to my gardening became my two favourite hobbies on Robben Island. It was a strange sensation enjoying such civilised hobbies in such an uncivilised place. It caused me to reflect on the strange and perverse nature of apartheid, where they wrongly thought that one peoples’ freedom could only be enjoyed at the expense and oppression of another.” An edition of 350 lithographs was launched on Robben Island in 2003.
  • Creator:
    Nelson Mandela (1918 - 2013)
  • Creation Year:
    2003
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 15.75 in (40 cm)Width: 20.08 in (51 cm)Depth: 1.58 in (4 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Knowle Lane, GB
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: The Tennis Court1stDibs: LU120714348681

More From This Seller

View All
Mandela's Walk - Mandela, Former South African President, Signed, Robben Island
By Nelson Mandela
Located in Knowle Lane, Cranleigh
Nelson Mandela, The Walk, Signed Limited Edition Lithograph Many people are unaware that Nelson Mandela turned his hand to art in his 80's as a way of leaving a legacy for his family...
Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Landscape Prints

Materials

Lithograph

The Courtyard - Nelson Mandela, South African, inspiration, Robben Island, hope
By Nelson Mandela
Located in Knowle Lane, Cranleigh
Nelson Mandela, The Courtyard, Signed Limited Edition Lithograph Many people are unaware that Nelson Mandela turned his hand to art in his 80's as a way of leaving a legacy for his f...
Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Landscape Prints

Materials

Lithograph

The Harbour - Mandela, Former South African President, Signed Art, Robben Island
By Nelson Mandela
Located in Knowle Lane, Cranleigh
Nelson Mandela, The Harbour, Signed Limited Edition Lithograph Many people are unaware that Nelson Mandela turned his hand to art in his 80's as a way of leaving a legacy for his fam...
Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Landscape Prints

Materials

Lithograph

The Ward - Mandela, Former South African President, Signed Art, Robben Island
By Nelson Mandela
Located in Knowle Lane, Cranleigh
Nelson Mandela, The Ward, Signed Limited Edition Lithograph Many people are unaware that Nelson Mandela turned his hand to art in his 80's as a way of leaving a legacy for his family...
Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Interior Prints

Materials

Lithograph

The Window - Mandela, Former South African President, Signed Art, Robben Island
By Nelson Mandela
Located in Knowle Lane, Cranleigh
Nelson Mandela, The Window, Signed Limited Edition Lithograph Many people are unaware that Nelson Mandela turned his hand to art in his 80's as a way of leaving a legacy for his family. He spent time with an art tutor and learnt to draw. In 2002, when creating the The Window print, he told Anna and Laura from Belgravia Gallery of his desire to become a full time artist when he retired. This sketch depicts a view of Table Mountain through the bars of a prison cell...
Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Interior Prints

Materials

Lithograph

The Lighthouse - Mandela, Former South African President, Signed, Robben Island
By Nelson Mandela
Located in Knowle Lane, Cranleigh
Nelson Mandela, The Lighthouse, Signed Limited Edition Lithograph Many people are unaware that Nelson Mandela turned his hand to art in his 80's as a way of leaving a legacy for his family. He spent time with an art tutor and learnt to draw. In 2002, when creating the The Lighthouse print...
Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Landscape Prints

Materials

Lithograph

You May Also Like

Tennis Court II
Located in Toronto, ON
14" x 11.5" Unframed Original Pencil Drawing Hand Signed by Joe Lasker
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Landscape Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Pencil

Tennis Court
Located in Toronto, ON
8.5" x 15" Unframed Artist's Proof Etching Hand Signed by Joe Lasker Part of the Permanent Collection of the Smithsonian
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Landscape Prints

Materials

Etching

Small French Garden - Lithograph, 1971
By Paul Cézanne
Located in Paris, IDF
Paul Cezanne Small French Garden, 1971 Lithograph and stencil (Jacomet workshop) Unsigned Numbered / 225 On paper applied on Arches vellum 41.5 x 53.5 cm (c. 16.5 x 21 in) INFORMAT...
Category

1970s Modern Landscape Prints

Materials

Lithograph, Stencil

Trees and houses - Lithograph, 1971
By Paul Cézanne
Located in Paris, IDF
Paul Cezanne Trees and houses, 1971 Lithograph and stencil (Jacomet workshop) Unsigned Numbered / 225 On paper applied on Arches vellum 53.5 x 41.5 cm (c. 21 x 16.5 in) INFORMATION...
Category

1970s Modern Landscape Prints

Materials

Lithograph, Stencil

1983 Roland Garros French Open-HAND SIGNED
By Vladimir Velickovic
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This signed, numbered HC (Hors Commerce) out of 50, and dated lithograph by Velickovic is a striking example of the artistic tradition embraced by the Roland Garros French Open since...
Category

20th Century Contemporary Prints and Multiples

Materials

Lithograph

Landscape - Vintage Offset print after Giorgio Morandi - 1973
By Giorgio Morandi
Located in Roma, IT
Landscape is a vintage offset print, reproducing the original watercolor by Giorgio Morandi. Signature and date by the artist is perfectly reproduced on plate. Image Dimensions: 17....
Category

1970s Modern Landscape Prints

Materials

Offset