'Twin Peaks' Pierneef sells for R20m

An unseen painting by South African landscape artist JH Pierneef broke multiple records on Monday when it was sold for a cool R20.5-million.

The painting, called Farm Jonkershoek with Twin Peaks Beyond, Stellenbosch, was put under the hammer by auctioneers Strauss & Co in Johannesburg, and was only expected to fetch between R6-million and R8-million.

Instead, the piece was sold at more than double that, making it the second highest price ever achieved for a painting sold at auction in South Africa.

It was the highest price paid for a Pierneef painting anywhere in the world.

Pierneef is generally regarded as one of South Africa's most famous artists and his works can be seen worldwide.