Cartoons by Henry Thomas Bosdet

Soon after Henry Bosdet’s death in 1934, his widow donated his collection of drawings to the Société Jersiaise. This princely gift is the other half of his important legacy to the island of Jersey.

The collection of drawings includes over one hundred and forty items, ranging from simple initial sketches to full-size cartoons for the very large windows.

Most are executed in pencil and many have been colour-washed to indicate the palette which Henry Bosdet wished to use in any particular window. Designs for the floral or architectural borders abound as well as angels, armorial bearings, elegantly flowing scrolls, and lettering for memorial inscriptions.

The beauty of line and the sensitivity of Bosdet’s portrayal of the many biblical characters in the collection are breathtaking. Unfortunately, due to the passage of time, many of the drawings are fragile and the collection is not normally on view. Restoration of a number of the cartoons has begun, thanks to the generous sponsorship of the BNP Paribas Bank, St Helier. With the kind agreement of the Jersey Heritage Trust, a small selection of the cartoons has been especially photographed for this guide. They demonstrate eloquently Henry Bosdet’s outstanding graphic talents.

Extract from The Glass Rainbow, Aidan Smith OBE, Jersey Heritage Trust 2005

E0501 Three Mary's at the Tomb (detail)  St Giles' Church, South Mimms, Herts	J0301 The Wedding Feast at Cana (detail) St Aubin on the Hill Church, Jersey
J0803 The Angels Appear to the Shepherds (detail) St Mary's Church, Jersey
J0803 The Angels Appear to the Shepherds (detail) St Mary's Church, Jersey	J1303 The Annunciation (detail) St Saviour's Church, Jersey
Cartoon photos courtesy of The Jersey Heritage Trust