Portrait of Archdeacon E.H. Stenning, signed Schmidk (First World War internee artist)
Date made: 1919
Description: Watercolour miniature of Archdeacon E.H. Stenning, signed 'Schmidk', and dated 1919. In an oblong brass frame, mounted in a special leather case of brown, decorated with gold leaf, and lined with ivory velvet and satin. Miniature 4 inch x 3 inch sight, leather case 6 1/4 inch x 5 1/4 inch. [see also 1964-0028 the accompanying portrait of Stenning's wife]. This miniature was painted by a First World War internee, and Stenning refers to this in his diary (in MNH archives).
E. H. Stenning (1885-1964), Vice-principal of King William's College and achdeacon of Man was chaplain from his ordination in 1911 until his retirement from King William's in 1953. Outside King William's his great passion was motorcycling. He was a founder member and then president of the Manx Motor Cycle Club, a steward at TT and Manx Grand Prix Races, and always in demand as a raconteur at the race prize-giving ceremonies. The Duke of Edinburgh dubbed him 'The Motorcycling Dean'. Ernest Stenning was immensely popular not only at King William's but also in the Island generally. There was widespread approval when he was made a MBE in 1958 for his services to motorcycling, and also when Her Majesty appointed him Chaplain to the Queen in the following year. (Information from ‘New Manx Worthies’ (2006))
Internees were held on the Isle of Man in two camps, a requisitioned holiday camp in Douglas and a purpose built camp located at Knockaloe near Peel on the west coast of the Island. These held at their peaks over 4,000 and 23,000 men in some cases for nearly five years between opening in 1914 and final closure in 1919. Over 30,000 men passed through Knockaloe between 1914 and 1917 more than the population of Douglas the largest town.
Measurements: overall: 16 cm x 13 cm
Materials: watercolour on paper
Object name: painting
Collection: Art Collection
ID number: 1964-0027
Subject tags : #WW1INTERNMENTMUSEUMCOLLECTIONS