Ethel Sophia Cheeswright Rocks off Guernsey

An original early 20th-century watercolour painting, Ethel Sophia Cheeswright, Rocks off Guernsey.

A superb, large coastal view on the island of Guernsey in the Channel Islands by renowned Sark artist Ethel Sophia Cheeswright (1874–1977). As was typical, Cheeswright paints expressively in and deftly in watercolour. The artist is notable for her commitment to painting the island of Sark, and her contribution to the local fishing community throughout her exceptionally long life, dying on the island aged 103.

This painting not only captures the beauty of the landscape, but also bears a remarkable, darker history, revealed by the historic framing label. The tranquility of Cheeswight's art conceals a—by all accounts—remarkably tenacious and eccentric character, who late in life endured a period of internment in a German prison camp. During the occupation of the Channel Islands in World War II, she was deported to Biberach, where she continued to paint despite her advanced age of seventy, ill health and failing eyesight. Cheeswright was returned home to Sark in 1944. The framing label reveals that this watercolour was given as a wedding dedication to a German officer, Herren H. Holtappels, who was a member of Grenadier Regiment 584 in the Germany army. Regiment 584 formed part of the 319th Infantry Division, who were the occupying force on Guernsey from April 1941 until the Channel Islands were liberated in May 1945. It is unclear how this painting came to be gifted to a German officer, but it evidences the unusual circumstances endured by the people of the Channel Islands during the so-called peaceful occupation and the complicated demands of coexistence with German troops.

Label inscription: 'Herrn H. Holtappels zur vermählung gewidnet [dedicated to the marriage]. Das Offz. Korps d.III / Gr. Rgt. 584 [Officer Corps division III / Grenadier Regiment 584]'.

On card.