Description

Extended Data

DAAO URL

https://www.daao.org.au/bio/james-chesterfield

Birth Place

France

Biography

James Chesterfield was born in France c.1884. He was supposedly, according to family sources, the illegitimate son of prominent British artist Sir Frank Brangwyn. This assumption tallies with other accounts of Sir Brangwyn apparently having an illegitimate son at about the same time, though the relationship has not been verified. He was taken to England as a baby and raised by his mother’s sister Edith on the Cornwall coast and later at Abergavenny. He studied at the Truro Art School, Cornwall (founded 1902), where he was awarded a twelve-month scholarship to study in France. Chesterfield migrated to Australia in the company of Albert Sherman (1882-1971) who also studied at Truro. By 1913 Chesterfield was working with an uncle who had a farm in Tully. When his uncle died he departed the area and worked his way down the coast to Brisbane, painting signs for butchers shops and the like. While in Brisbane he was employed by Victor Day’s sign writing shop. He married Minnie Hope Ainsworth in South Brisbane. His portrait in a family collection by the German-born Brisbane artist L.W.K. Wirth was probably painted at this time. Chesterfield joined the Australian Army in 1915 (as James Chesterfield Brangwyn) and served in Europe with the 15th Battalion. His wife sent him materials and he painted in the trenches. He was demobbed in 1919 and returned first to England to collect his wife. A daughter, Berniece, was born in 1919, followed by another daughter, Hope (who also became an artist), and a son, Howel in 1924. James was shell-shocked during the war so did not paint for many years. He established the sign writing shop 'J. Chesterfield & Company’ in George Street, Brisbane, which he later relocated to Petrie Terrace. He resumed his contributions to the annual exhibitions of the Royal Queensland Art Society in 1928, which included watercolours with titles such as On the Marne , Near my dugout and Snow, Sutton’s, Vimy, painted during the war. He served on the Committee of the Society from 1931-32 and became good friends with the prominent Brisbane artist W.G. Grant, who used to visit frequently. His work was predominantly in the still life genre but he also produced landscapes. He did not exhibit after 1943. James Chesterfield died in Brisbane on 26 May 1962, aged seventy-eight years. Writers: Cooke, Glenn R Aaron Howel Chesterfield-Brangwyn Date written: 2009 Last updated: 2013

Born

b. c.1884

Summary

James Chesterfield was a Brisbane-based artist who had been born in France and raised in England. He worked as a sign-writer for a time and served on the committee of the Royal Queensland Art Society from 1931-32.

Gender

Male

Died

26-May-62

Age at death

78