Marilyn Man captured on canvas

Wednesday 29 June 2016

Renowned celebrity memorabilia collector and heritage benefactor David Gainsborough Roberts is the latest Islander to be immortalised by Jersey Heritage Trust’s People’s Portrait initiative.

Each year the Trust asks the public to help it draw up a shortlist of Islanders who they feel should be captured on canvas. The Trust then chooses one and commissions a work of art – usually a painting.

Previous recipients have included conservationist Mike Stentiford, trade union leader Rene Liron, St Helier honorary police officer Mitch Couriard, Occupation ‘educators’ Bob Le Sueur and Joe Miere, charity worker Daphne Minihane, the Island’s first female constable Iris Le Feuvre, the Island’s economic adviser Colin Powell, pantomime dame Teddy Noel, and the lifeboat crews.

To most Islanders David is known as ‘the Marilyn man’ because of the number of items he owns belonging to Hollywood legend Marilyn Monroe. His collection – the largest in the world - includes her swimming costume from the film “There’s no Business Like Show Business”, a dress from “Bus Stop”, a blouse from “Let’s Make Love”, a fur from “The Prince and the Showgirl”, and a red sequin dress from “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”. But he also owns thousands of other items including a gun belonging to John Dillinger, a napkin ring from the Titanic, a slice of Queen Victoria’s wedding cake, a diary belonging to Adolf Hitler and a cigarette case owned by Italian fascist leader Mussolini. He also owns works of art by Picasso and Winston Churchill.

The Trust has displayed items from Mr Robert’s collection in two very successful exhibitions. The first was called “Fame” which included a cross section of his items, the second “Marilyn”, focused on the Hollywood icon. It was due to run for seven months, starting in March 2009, but was so popular it ran for almost two years.

When the Trust announced it would be honouring Mr Roberts it said: “The renowned memorabilia collector was chosen because of his generosity of spirit in sharing his collection with the public through talks and loans to museum exhibitions in Jersey and throughout the world, including allowing Jersey Heritage to display his Marilyn Monroe costumes and create an exhibition which is still talked about today, six year later."

Later this year Mr Robert’s multi-million pound collection is being auctioned at Christie’s and he’ll be donating the money to the Heritage Trust.

At the unveiling ceremony at the town museum, Jersey Heritage director, Ed Sallis, described David as “one of a kind”.

Mr Roberts, who hadn’t seen the painting until it was unveiled said he was “overwhelmed” by the result. He said it really captured his character.

The artist chosen for the commission was Benjamin Sullivan who has exhibited in the Royal Academy and the National Portrait Gallery.