The Parliamentary tour begins in the foyer for the House of Commons. When the Centre Block was rebuilt after the 1916 fire, stonemasons worked through the many spaces, carving intricate designs into walls, arches, and columns.
Many of the carvings incorporate elements of history, symbols of the country and provinces, or wildlife and the land.
The ceiling of this area is something to behold.
Throughout this space, a series of portraits of Prime Ministers are placed. The one below is Sir Robert Borden, our Prime Minister from 1911-1920.
This statue is something unusual: George Harold Baker was a serving Member of Parliament who volunteered for service in the First World War and was among the casualties of that war. You can find his story here.
Quite an elegant interior.
ReplyDeleteThat is quite superb!
ReplyDeleteThe stonework is amazing !
ReplyDeleteAmazing sight!
ReplyDeleteMade me wonder about the first person who thought about putting chisel to stone. What was he thinking? ;-)
ReplyDeleteI love seeing inside the grand places of power. This is worthy of several posts.
ReplyDeletequite grand!
ReplyDeleteOakland: yes it is.
ReplyDeleteCiel: that is what I thought!
Stuart: the stonemasons did wonders in here.
Merisi: thanks!
Revrunner: we will never know!
Mo: much more to come!
Tanya: thanks!
There's just something about stone buildings - stone allows for a great magnitude of magnificence! The carvings are gorgeous, too. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletePretty amazing William. Thank you.
ReplyDeletei like all the arches and the neat ceiling, too.
ReplyDeleteThe carvings are absolutely fantastic! I can spend hours in a place like this.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine any of our politicians volunteering for active service. :/ Kudos to Mr George Harold Baker.
Stunning details in those first two shots.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful details and photos . Thanks for sharing . Have a good day . Oh and Happy Spring !
ReplyDeleteAwesome detail!
ReplyDelete@Lowell: and there is plenty of that in here.
ReplyDelete@Luis: you're welcome!
@Tex: looking at shots for the next few days, I'm struck by how the arch theme keeps repeating itself in here.
@Hilda: it takes a lot of guts... not a common thing in a politician.
@Sharon: yes, quite true.
@Country Gal: it doesn't quite feel like spring!
@RamblingRound: thanks!
Looks kind of like an old cathedral!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous carvings! I have never visited the Portuguese parliament. I don't even want to breath the same air politicians do. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Cheryl. It does look like an old cathedral!
ReplyDeleteLove the carvings and that ceiling! Hope you didn't run into out PM when you were there. I didn't hear anything on the news so I assume you didn't.
ReplyDeleteInteresting Moorish touches!
ReplyDeleteNice place, but the photo not so.
ReplyDelete@Cheryl: yes it does.
ReplyDelete@Jose: I waited til they were gone for Christmas!
@Norma: that's what they were going for!
@RedPat: by then he was off in Calgary, plotting new ways to undermine the opposition.
@Linda: I wouldn't have thought of that!
@Inna: admittedly, I was in a bit of a rush there. It came across that way.
It is quite impressive! I enjoy touring places like this. Looking forward to more pictures!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteHow lovely! I'd be constantly looking up on this tour, that ceiling is amazing!
ReplyDeleteIt is. It'll now be a few years before I see it again.
DeleteAs much as I enjoy architecture, and particularly 19th century grand buildings, this appeals to me. How I would love to take a tour.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to get into the temporary quarters sometime soon.
DeleteIt is magnificent, thank you William. Also for providing the link telling of George Harold Baker's story, which was very interesting indeed.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome.
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