The sun., 1919-06-03

|
| Jor display IN fhdt n
| The exhibition, t1htoh totlI be opened by
fhe Duke Of Devonshire, Goverror-G en-
erdI OF Cdnddo, toiIt BE- 'urder the dtrcc-
tion OF Paul q. Konody, tho sosll ky,o,on
art critic, Member Of the editorial stdU OF
the London "Observer" and art director
and honorary seoetory Of ths Canodtun
War Memorials Fund, and Capt. Percy
y. Godsnrdth of the Royal HiohIanders
OF Canada and OF the Canadian Wa,
Records Office. At the request Of the
Cdnddfdn Section OF THE SUN Mr..
konody has toritten the foIIotoin1 highly
Illustrating article.
ny PAUL q. KONODY.
Written especially for the canadisa Section
Of TIE sus.
I welcome the opportunity afforded
me by the courtesy Of THE SUN to give
q brief explanation of the inception, the
aims and the achievement of the Cana
dian War Memorials Fund, which, under
the auspices Of the Canadian War
Records. In about to open q great exhi-
bition Of war paintings at the Anderson
Galleries In this city.
The ultimate object Of the committee
consisting of Lord Rothermere, for
merly British Air Minister; Lord Beaver
brook, head Of the Canadian War Record
and OF the late British Ministry of
Information, and the late Sir Bertram
Lima, director of Pictorial P~opaganda
was TO provide the capital of the
Dominion with a permanent and impos-
ing artistic memorial OF the part Canada
played in the great war.
This memorial was to consist, in the
first place, of a vast series of monu-
mental decorative paintings, ranging in
size from twelve feet to forty feet in
length. and dealing with every phase Of
Canadian war activity on land, on sea
and in the air. Battle pictures were to
be supplemented by portrait groups of
the army leaders. representations of
life in training camps and recreation
huts, munition works. railway construc-
ton, forestry hospitals. shipping-in
fact every phase OF labor and organiza-
ton required by the exigencies OF modern
warfare.
Smaller Paintings Also.
These great panels were to form the
integral part Of q magnificent ARCHITECT
tural scheme constructed around these
decorative paintings, for which spaces Of
suitable dimensions were to be pro-
vided in the architects design. Sub
sidiary 10 this series. which in itself
would constitute a war memorial of
unique character. there was to be
vast collection Of smaller paintings,
drawings and engravings. done on the
spot by the selected artists for record
purposes complete series OF portraits
Of Canadian ". C's and n historical
section OF paintings by old masters that
have some special bearing on Canadian
history. like Romney's famous portrait
OF Joseph Brand. bought by the fund
at public auction for f27,5oo, and the
Death of Gen. Wolfe" generously pre-
sented TO the fund by the Duke Of West
minister.
A schedule OF the main subjects hav-
Ing been drawn up by the committee,
every effort was made to md for each
subject the one and only artist whose
past achievement justified faith to do
full justice to the theme allotted to him
Through the cooperation OF the Can
adam Government these artists. or most
OF them. were given commissions in the
Canadian army. which enabled them to
proceed to the front TO collect their ma
terial.
Throughout, the committee endeav-
ored TO avoid the customary method of
employing artists who work from news
paper descriptions or rely upon their
imagination. Every picture was to be
the result Of actual observation and
experience-of personal emotion. Work
created under other conditions can never
be OF permanent value.
All schools Represented.
While thus making sure of live in
terest and historical accuracy, the com
mittee did not lose sight OF the artistic
aspect OF its colossal scheme. The col
lection OF paintings was 10 give n COM
plete and reliable picture OF the con-
ditton OF art in the period OF the great
war Every phase, every school-from
the ultra-academic and conventional TO
the extremely modern cubist and vorti-
cist-was to be represented at its best,
so that the Ottawa War Memorial
should become In future ages a place OF
pilgrimage for art students and art low
srs; that Ottawa should become one OF
the greatest art centres OF the AmerI- |
can continent. II not the greatest.
To defray the enormous expenses of
this ambitious and gigantic scheme the
committee asked neither for Govern
ment grant nor for private subscriptions
The artists were paid from the proceeds
of the numerous publications issued by
and Of the exhibitions OF war photographs
organized by the same department. A
very considerable amount flowed into the
Golfers OF the fund as the result Of the |
exhibition OF the Canadian War Me !
MORALS paintings at the Royal Academy |
In London last winter. The collection |
may thus be stated to have. partly at |
least, paid for itself.
II has now been brought to New York |
as tribute to the 10000 or more brave |
American boys who enlisted in the Ca |
madam forces. The memorial serves as |
much to honor their heroism and devo- |
ton as that OF the Canadians who laid |
down their lives in the cause of freedom |
and justice.
fully realize the difficulties with |
which we are faced in opening this ex- |
hlbition in the last days OF the dying |
season. but, being acquainted with the |
nature of the work we have brought !
across the Atlantic. I have no fear Of !
the success OF = venture. in the dlreo-
tlon OF which Z associated with Capt, |
Percy F Godenrath, the military. repre-
sentative OF the Canadian War Records |
ONCE, London, England.
"shOuld Have Wide Appeal"