Artwork of the Month - September 2012
Dixcart Well and Valley, Sark
Artist: John St. Helier Lander (1869-1944)
Medium: Oil on board
Status: Permanent collection
Item No.: GMAG 2005.141
About the Artist
John Helier Lander was born in St Helier, Jersey, he later added the St. to his name to acknowledge this. Lander is best known as a portrait painter, having painted most of the British generals of the First World War. A fine example of one of his portraits, a full length portrait of George V, can be seen in the Hatton Gallery at Castle Cornet, St Peter Port.
Lander showed a talent for painting at an early age, and was given his first 'real' paint-box by the infamous Lillie Langtry. At first Lander's father did not support his son's artistic ambitions but when people started to buy his work his father soon changed his mind.
After studying art in London and Paris, Lander returned to Jersey to become art-master at the Ladies' College as well as spending some time teaching art at Guernsey's Ladies' College. He had a residence in Jersey for around ten years before moving to London, building a studio at Hanley Gardens in the Boltons. The studio was bombed in 1940 during the 'Blitz'. Lander died four years later in Witley, Surrey.
