Thomas Guille left Guernsey in 1832 when only 14 years of age. He went to New York where he worked as apprentice to Daniel Mauger, a carpenter and builder. There he stayed and made his fortune. Guille’s experience of using the apprentices’ library in New York made him determined to provide something similar for Guernsey. On returning to the Island in 1882 he and his business partner Frederick Allès purchased the Assembly Rooms in Market Street. The original building was extended and in November 1888 the Guille-Allès Library was opened, together with lecture rooms, an art gallery and a museum. This painting is a smaller version of the painting by Brooks which hangs in Guille-Allès Library.