From the President - Autumn 2007

Many of the Société's Presidents are elected to that role after previously filling the role of a Vice-President. However, in my case, this did not happen and over the first few months I still have not had the opportunity to look very far ahead but I am happy to be able to continue several projects in which my predecessor had been involved.

Top among these was to bring one of the rooms in No.9 Pier Road back into the Société's area of responsibility, as has been agreed for a long time. Often known as 'The Old Library', this room has direct access to the Société's main block and will be a major asset in terms of spaces available for meetings of all types. The final stages of transfer are nearing completion and, once security has been sorted out, attention will have to be given to re-decorating and furnishing.

Another, more obvious, change will be bringing forward the archway onto the Weighbridge area to its position some decades ago. This will make the approach to the Société and the Museum more visible tand redress the effect of the large extension to the Royal Yacht Hotel. Whatever physical changes may take place, the work of the Société's many and varied sections will, of course, be continuing!

An exciting new acquisition

An important collection of works by the nineteenth century marine painter Philip John Ouless (1817-1885) has just been purchased by the Société. The acquisition comprises 134 watercolours and drawings, 8 sketchbooks, 13 passports and other personal items in addition to three sketchbooks by his son, the portrait painter Walter William Ouless (1848-1933). The collection, which has been in the artisit's family, will complement the large body of works on paper by Philip John Ouless already owned by the Société. Those works are predominantly studies of vessels produced in relation to the artist's profession as a marine and ship portrait painter and no sketchbooks by either Philip or Walter have been in the ownership of either the Société or the Jersey Heritage Trust.

The new acquisition adds considerably to our knowledge of the artist and his working methods. In particular it provides evidence of his travels to the continent, notably through a  sequence of ten large watercolours of the Rhine, as well as being a visual record of visits to Brittany and Normandy and several visits to England. The collection is particularly strong in views of the artist's native island of Jersey, both of the coast and the interior. Contributing to our knowledge of the artist's working methods as a ship as a ship portrait painter is a comprehensive list of over fifty vessels with detailed measurements and specifications. There is also a fascinating diary account of the artist's visit to London im 1841.

The purchase of this impressive addition to the Société's collection has obviously significantly reduced the size of our special fund dedicated to expenditure beyond the day-to-day running of the Société. The acquisition was made possible using funds from a legacy by the late Basil George and we now have to consider how that fund can best be replenished. The importance of a fund held in reserve for acquisitions of local historic significance for the benefit of the island, at very short notice, is demonstrated by the apporpriation of the above fund.

Rowland 'Chick' Anthony 

PJ Ouless - Wreck of La Cultivateur, St Ouen's Bay - 12th March 1861