Internee-made portrait
Date made: September 1941
Artist: Sonnenfeld, Herbert
Description: Framed and glazed internment portrait by Herbert Sonnenfeld. Head of man (about 40 years old) in open necked shirt and a jacket. The subject is Mr Quiggan, a Manx farmer, from Rushen. Signed in bottom right corner. Produced in Rushen Internment Camp. The subject in this painting is the father of the child in the portrait MNH collection ID Number 1995-0145.
Sonnenfeld and his family were interned on the Isle of Man in 1940. Herbert was sent to Mooragh Camp in Ramsey, whilst his wife and daughter were sent to Rushen Camp. It was whilst at the Mooragh Camp that he took up sketching and portraits. On one occasion his young daughter Gerda Marie managed to sneak away from Port St. Mary and managed to get to Ramsey by bus. When stopped by the guard she sat down and said she would stay there until she was allowed to see her father. The Commandant took pity on her and allowed them to meet in his office for a short while even though it was against regulations. Eventually they were reunited at the married camp in Port St Mary. Whilst here Herbert worked on a farm belonging to Mr. Quiggin for 1 shilling a day. Mr. Quiggin invited several internees and their families to his daughter's wedding festivities. The family were released in 1942.
Measurements: overall: 57.8 x 50 cm
Materials: Paper & Charcoal & Chalk
Object name: Painting
Collection: Art Collection
ID number: 1995-0146
Subject tags : #WW2INTERNMENTMUSEUMCOLLECTIONS