The story of Paganini
Niccolo Paganini, an Italian as depicted in his life biography, was the greatest violinist who ever lived.
Englishman Ralph Palmer, who was educated in South Africa, sculpted his version of what Paganini looked like, as the musician not have good facial features.
In the mid to late 1940s, “Paganini”, the 11 foot high, four ton sculpture was “born” in Jolly Street, Belle-vue, Johannesburg, holding a violin under his chin.
In 1979 Gerald Ebertson, who had a love of all things cultural and historic, now a retired principal of Farrarmere Primary School, found the Paganini statue abandoned in storage.
He wrote to the council and asked for the statue. Benonians Morrie Nestadt (former mayor), Ron Howie, Lionel Kent and George Walmsley, uprooted the statue from the sheds in Johannesburg and brought it back to Benoni.
Paganini stood in Nestadt Park and at one of the dams in town and each time it was battered and painted.
Vandals threw stones at it, and also knocked off the recently repaired nose and made clip marks on the body – the people of Benoni did not like or accept such an ugly effigy.
Paganini now stands proudly in the quad at Farrarmere Primary School, which is richer for its presence.
Source: Various articles. Benoni City Times, internet and, booklets.
Story told by: Glynis Cox Millett-Clay
