The Life and Work of Charles Bell – Phillida Brooke Simons

Charles Davidson Bell (22 October 1813 – 7 April 1882) was a multifaceted individual known for his contributions as the Surveyor-General in the Cape Colony, an artist, heraldist, and designer of Cape medals and stamps. His work extended beyond the official realm, as he was also a land surveyor and designer of stamps, medals, and silverware. Bell’s contributions to the aesthetic, social, and commercial life of 19th-century Cape Town were significant, yet for a hundred years after his death, very little was known about him. The return of much of his oeuvre from England to Cape Town in 1978 has allowed historians and art historians to appreciate much of his work, revealing his quirky sense of humour and sensitive depictions of the diverse population of Cape Town.