Stepping out of the room I left off with yesterday brings us into the Ballroom. It's used for official occasions, including the swearing in of new governments. It is dominated by the chandelier- a gift from the United Kingdom after the Second World War and which contains thousands of crystals- and a large portrait of Queen Elizabeth.
On the opposite wall from the Queen, art is regularly displayed. The guide mentioned that this cluster of art is by five different First Nations artists, including Norval Morrisseau and Alex Janvier.
Moving beyond takes us into the front entrance hall, where a conventional tour would have started. Official portraits of every Canadian Governor-General since 1952 are collected here. The current Governor-General's portrait will be added to this collection when his term ends; he'll be staying on through 2017.
If not for the work going on outside, an exit would have been made outside the front doors. Instead we were taken on a bit of a roundabout way down through the basement level out to where we began. I noticed portraits of the spouses of various governor-generals as I walked through.
So beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful rooms.
ReplyDeleteThe Ball room is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteLooks like some beautiful art.
ReplyDeleteJanis
GDP
You sure can have a ball there!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful Ball room with its blue colours, windows and rounded ceiling.
ReplyDeleteGreat space. I've decided I want to be Governor-General. Sounds like a lot of fun without a lot of responsibilities. Who do I have to bribe? Oh, wait, that's the way we do things down here.
ReplyDeletethe portraits are grand to fit the setting.
ReplyDelete@Linda: indeed!
ReplyDelete@Orvokki: they are.
@Nancy: I agree.
@Janis: definitely.
@Marianne: yes you can.
@Marleen: great for state occasions.
@Lowell: actually it is a lot of work!
The ballroom is so grand William, the chandelier and pale blue walls look wonderful. The old portraits look so dark and austere compared to today's portraiture style.
ReplyDeleteI have always been a big fan of pretty ballrooms
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize that rideau Hall was so huge. That's a very grand front entrance.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it be fun to go to a fancy ball back in the day?
ReplyDeleteMB
@Tex: they certainly do fit the setting.
ReplyDelete@Grace: the more recent Governor-General portraits reflect that. Adrienne Clarkson chose a Far North theme for her portrait, as she spent a good amount of time on Arctic issues. Michaele Jean chose her portrait to include her husband and daughter, as well as veterans, soldiers, and First Nations people.
@Janey: and this one certainly qualifies.
@Red: it is quite a big place, and the public only sees a portion of it.
@MB: it would be quite an experience.
That ballroom is pretty spectacular.
ReplyDeleteThe rooms there are so pretty, William.This one is the perfect setting for a ball!
ReplyDeletelove the chandelier ( ;
ReplyDeletei thought i missed this one ... but i did comment, i love the ladies winter coat with those fur cozy bits. neat-O!!! ( ;
DeleteSpectacular room! It's always nice to see good artwork too.
ReplyDeleteLovely room. It's nice to see the First Nations artwork is included.
ReplyDelete@Sharon: it certainly is.
ReplyDelete@RedPat: it's well used for state occasions.
@Beth: it's quite an elaborate chandelier.
@Linda: it certainly is.
@Halcyon: yes, it is. Janvier is going to be having a retrospective at the National Gallery- it wouldn't surprise me if his painting here is part of that.
Spectacular ballroom!
ReplyDeleteThe woodworking and stonework are stunning. Everything about this place is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteAmazing green sward in your header. :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a building!
ReplyDeleteBelos retratos e estas salas são lindÃssimas.
ReplyDeleteUm abraço e bom fim-de-semana.
Andarilhar
The money and the marble!
ReplyDelete@Norma: that it is.
ReplyDelete@Kay: I agree.
@Revrunner: thanks!
@Mari: it certainly is.
@Francisco: thank you.
@Jennifer: a lot of both.