Francis Le Maistre
Francis William Synge Le Maistre 1859-1940
- La Moye Quarry, Coastal Scene, Jersey Farmstead, View towards Fort Regent
Family
Artist Francis Le Maistre was the second son of the Rev George Le Maistre and Augusta Low, daughter of Dr Alexander Low. He was born in St Brelade and educated at his father's school in St Aubin, Reading School and Brighton College, where his father became a master. He was related to Philippe Jean.
He went to Kings College London to study medicine, but spent all his spart time in art galleries and gave up medicine to pursue a career in art. He lived with his aunt in London until her death and then returned to Jersey to live with his parents.
He had a passion for the sea and his studio was built at Corbière so that he could study the sea, waves and rocks.
Exhibitions
He exhibited every year at the Royal Institute of Oil Painters and at the Royal Academy between 1895 and 1927. He painted in oils, and many of his pictures come his home parish of St Brelade, including La Pulente and St Brelade’s Bay, both reproduced by the Medici Society; Corbiere Quarry, Ouaisne, Noirmont Point and La Cotte. From St Ouen’s come Vraicking at St Ouen (1937), L’Etaq, Le Pulec and Le Pinacle, and from the South Coast Elizabeth Castle (seen from La Haule, with a cornfield), View towards Fort Regent and St Helier Harour. From Sark comes a view of Havre Gosselin. There are some pure marine scenes like Storm Surf and Seascape and Rocks.
In 1907, he married Alice, daughter of Colonel Le Cornu of La Hague. They lived at Graystones, St Aubin, and then at Grey Gables, which he had built at the top of Mont au Roux. He sold the house and built another, Windward House, where he lived from 1925 till his death. He left several pictures to the Parish of St Brelade.
Gallery
La Moye Quarry
Bruges
Cornfield
View of Fort Regent
Jersey farmstead
La Moye
La Seigneurie, Sark
Moon behind clouds
Orchard
Rocks
Rocks
Rocky coastal scene
Seascape
Storm surf
Sussex windmill
