Cecil Michaelis, the benefactor who established the Montebello Design Centre, is exposed as a Special Operations Executive (SOE) in the book ‘The Last War Artist – The war diaries of Cecil Michaelis’ by Anne Graaff.
In this interview with author, Anne Graaff, you will get to know about the man, based on research and information that has only recently been released about his active role in World War II and in fact beyond.
Listen to the Sanlam Arts Round Up on Fine Music Radio FMR 101.3fm every Friday at 17h30
As Anne relates, Cecil Michaelis came from a background of wealth and privilege. His early years were spent in South Africa, followed by his education at Oxford. Always wanting to be an artist, Cecil went to Paris where he focused on his passion for art. At the outbreak of World War II, despite making a significant contribution to aid and relief work, he enlisted in the war as an ordinary citizen. What follows is told by Anne in this interview. Uncovering Cecil as an official war artist, and that he was not simply a conscript, is a fascinating story that belies the unassuming and benevolent facade.
In the Preface to the book, Tessa Graaff, Managing Director of Montebello Design Centre, tells of her getting to know Cecil in the last decade of his life when she started at the newly launched Centre. It was only after his death through his family, she discovered trunks and boxes of his artwork and other material including his moleskin notebooks. This eventually led to the discovery of his life as a secret agent and that he was an official war artist.
Montebello Design Centre was the appropriate venue in December 2022 for the official launch of ‘The Last War Artist – The war diaries of Cecil Michaelis’ by Anne Graaff. This recording was first aired on Book Choice on Fine Music Radio. The absorbing book is available for sale at Montebello.
WHAT: ‘The Last War Artist – The war diaries of Cecil Michaelis’ by Anne Graaff
WHERE: Montebello Design Centre, 31 Newlands Ave, Newlands, Cape Town 7700
INFO: T 021 685 6445 | E management@montebello.co.za | Visit
The WHAT, WHY & WHERE of the
arts scene in around Cape Town
see the 2023 art craft + museums_map
and listen in to the Sanlam
Arts Round Up Fridays @16.10
on Fine Music Radio FMR 101.3fm
The FMR App makes it even easier to tune into the Sanlam Arts Round Up on Fridays! i-Phone HERE | Android HERE
