Henry Thomas Bosdet (7 January 1856 – 23 May 1934) was a Jersey sculptor, illustrator, painter and draughtsman. He was well known and widely acknowledged in the arts fraternity for his prominent work pertaining to the stained-glass windows which had been created to display them in churches across the British Isles.
He was born on 7 January 1856 in St Helier, and enrolled at the Royal Academy in 1873 at the ager of 17. His training programme also consisted of life drawing, fine art, architecture as well as his highly applauded glasswork coinciding with the fact that the Pre-Raphaelite art had become the norm and benchmark style which was widely accepted in the general context. He also met John Everett Millais who was one of the co-founders of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and they formed a unique bond befriending each other during countless occasions. Bosdet also received the honour of learning the essence of glass art under Millais and he also worked alongside Millais. Many vocal critics pointed out that his detailed comprehensive portrayal of glasswork and his immense work ethic was well evident of the fact that his style of doing things was the effect of the cult classic Pre-Raphaelic movement, although he started his career nearly two decades post the beginning of the moment. His most notable work incorporating decorated stained glass windows can still be seen in Anglican churches, chapels and private houses in across Jersey and other parts of Europe.
In May 2024, the sketch drawings highlighting the paramount importance of his work had been discovered at Jersey Archive and the drawings have been restored with the aim of preserving the memory and works of Bosdet.
For further details of the Glass Rainbow Trust, see www.glassrainbowtrust.org.je
Henry Thomas Bosdet
