WORKS OF Naval Art in the Senate Speaker s Chambers Celebrating the 100 th Anniversary of the Canadian Navy
Foreword by the Speaker of the Senate The year 2010 marks the 100 th anniversary of the enactment of the Naval Service Act. The centennial of the Canadian Navy is a proud event for Canada, particularly for those of us whose lives have intertwined with the men and women who serve in our navy. As an Honorary Captain attached to the Naval Reserves and a Maritimer from birth, I count myself among those for whom this anniversary has special meaning. The navy s centenary is being marked in many memorable ways this year, from as is fitting sea to sea to sea. It is appropriate that a special ceremony marking 100 years since the passage of the Naval Service Act on May 4, should take place in the Senate chamber. It was here, after all, that the bill, passed by both houses of Parliament, was sanctioned by a nod of the vice-regal head. This Act, in turn, gave life to a proud and distinguished Canadian naval service and tradition. 1
The historic chambers of the Speaker of the Senate are routinely used to provide what amounts to a showcase for Canadian art. Each year, a selection of paintings is made from publicly-owned galleries and museums to decorate this suite of rooms. In light of the role of the Senate in the creation of the navy and to help mark its centenary, this year s paintings were chosen to reflect and celebrate the navy s role in Canada. As dignitaries, diplomats and other foreign officials are received in the Speaker s chambers through the course of the year, they will be reminded of our naval history and tradition and of the pride it inspires in Canadians. These paintings speak to the importance of the Canadian Navy as an integral part of our history as a seafaring nation. The Honourable Noël A. Kinsella Speaker of the Senate 2
Works of Naval Art in the Senate Speaker s Chambers Ten paintings depicting different naval scenes adorn the chambers of the Speaker of the Senate as part of the celebration of the Canadian Navy s 100 th anniversary. These paintings were kindly loaned to the Senate by the from its. The Navy Centennial The Canadian Navy came into being with the passage of the Naval Service Act, just as the prospect of war was growing in Europe. Within a few short years, the newly formed Canadian Navy was part of the allied fleet that sought to control the seas during the First World War. This important function, keeping Atlantic sea lanes open, was even more important and challenging during the Second World War. In fact, the navy had to expand rapidly during these years so that it could effectively play a key role in the lengthy Battle of the Atlantic. The navy provided vital convoy escort duty to supply ships that crossed the treacherous Atlantic under the constant threat of attack. 3
After meeting this challenge successfully. the navy maintained an active role as part of Canada s military engagement through the Cold War years and beyond. As part of this ongoing effort, the navy developed new anti-submarine technologies, aided disaster relief efforts, conducted civilian evacuations, engaged in NATO exercises, patrolled Canada s waters, supported peacekeeping missions and took a leading role as part of Canada s involvement in the Korean and Gulf Wars. Today, the navy continues to evolve to suit the changing nature of both warfare and of its role in the service of Canada s citizens and allies, and it looks forward to the next 100 years. Canada s War Art The, part of the larger collection of the Canadian War Museum, documents Canada s military experience through the 20 th century. It is named for Lord Beaverbrook, the Canadian-born Max Aitken. During the First World War, he established the Canadian War Memorials Fund, hiring artists to sketch and paint scenes from the front lines in order to commemorate the heroic contribution of Canadians to the allied effort. The eight large canvases that hang in the Senate chamber, depicting scenes of the war-devastated landscapes of Europe, are part of this original collection. The work of the Canadian War Memorials Fund came to a close by 1920. However, a similar effort to use artists to record the nation s military history was renewed early in the Second World War led by High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Vincent Massey, and H. O. McCurry, Director of the National Gallery of Canada. This new program initially relied on artists who were already within the ranks of Canada s military, but soon after these and other artists were recruited and recognized as official full-time 4
war artists. This military art effort was again revived in the 1960s, when the National Gallery and the Department of National Defence collaborated on a program to document Canada s military experiences during the second half of the 20 th century. In 2001, the Canadian Forces Artists Program was revived once more, and that program continues today. The use of artists through all these programs has provided Canada with an important collection of war art, one of the best in the world. Most of these works are now housed at the. The maritime service is depicted in several important paintings in the. Ten of them have been brought together to hang in the Senate Speaker s chambers. These dramatic works are of scenes of the First and Second World Wars. Two of the paintings, dating from 1918, are by Arthur Lismer, a member of the celebrated Group of Seven. Several others are by Thomas Harold Beament, one of the most accomplished artists who served during the Second World War. Though actively serving in the navy as a commander of a minesweeper, his talent led to his appointment as the Senior Naval War Artist in 1943. 5
6 Arthur Lismer (1885 1969) Convoy and Tugs (1918) Oil on wood panel
Arthur Lismer (1885 1969) Clouds and Convoy (1918) Oil on wood panel 7
8 Commander Thomas Harold Beament (1898 1984) HMCS Prince Robert in Drydock (n.d.) Oil on canvas
Commander Thomas Harold Beament (1898 1984) HMCS Iroquois (n.d.) Oil on canvas 9
10 Commander Thomas Harold Beament (1898 1984) Motor Torpedo Boats Leaving for Night Patrol off Le Havre (1945) Oil on canvas
Commander Thomas Harold Beament (1898 1984) South side St. John s (n.d.) Oil on canvas 11
12 Commander Thomas Harold Beament (1898 1984) On Escort Duty (n.d.) Oil on canvas
Commander Charles Anthony Francis Law (1916 1996) Canadian Tribal Destroyers Leaving on Patrol, Plymouth (1946) Oil on canvas 13
14 Lieutenant Frank Leonard Brooks (1911 ) HMS Puncher at Scapa Flow (n.d.) Oil on canvas
Lieutenant Thomas Charles Wood (1913 1997) Corvette entering St. John s, Newfoundland (n.d.) Oil on canvas 15
16 Commander Thomas Harold Beament (1898 1984) South side, St. John s (n.d.) Oil on canvas