Monday, January 22, 2018

Senate Foyer

Coming out of the Library of Parliament and back into the Hall Of Honour, our guide, Nick, spoke about some of the details and contrasts between the library being part of the original Centre Block- built out of optimism- and the second Centre Block- built in the aftermath of the First World War, its tone more sombre. I photographed some of the details in the corridor before we moved on.


The next destination was the Senate foyer hall. This is the overhead ceiling, with crests and symbols adorning it. Words are among them as well- the surnames of those Senate Speakers that preceded the building of the new Centre Block. The corridors leading up here included portraits of the Senate Speakers since Confederation.


The walls around this hall include royal portraits, kings and queens, with their consorts visible in the upper levels. King Edward VII and King George V are side by side here.


Queen Victoria is to their left. Her portrait was among those items saved during the 1916 fire.


Across the space are portraits of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II side by side.


I liked the architecture of the nearby staircase, which leads to an outside entrance on the east side of Centre Block. Tomorrow we'll have a look at the Senate chamber.

38 comments:

  1. The hall is big and the ceiling is beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I like the pattern in the ceiling.

    Janis
    GDP

    ReplyDelete
  3. I haven't been there in ages! Very cool.

    ReplyDelete
  4. @Linda: it certainly is.

    @Nancy: it's like a castle.

    @Tom: definitely.

    @Janis: so do I.

    @Marie: they are!

    @Jennifer: it's well worth the visit.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Beautiful, it's a very impressive building.

    ReplyDelete
  6. gorgeous lights, those stain glass ... so amazing. cool times. ( ;

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hello, it is a beautiful building. lovely details. Happy Monday, enjoy your day and new week!

    ReplyDelete
  8. No expense was spared to build this beautiful building. I've been through it once and will not forget it.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wonderful vaulted ceiling in the Senate foyer hall, I'm very partial to arched ceilings ☺

    ReplyDelete
  10. That stained glass window caught my eye. It's so beautifully done.

    ReplyDelete
  11. So many beautiful details. I like those arches.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm overwhelmed by the majesty of this structure. I was thinking how nothing seems to change: the first part of the building was built during a period of optimism, then came WW1, the war to end all wars, followed by the optimism of the "roaring twenties." I think optimism has died in our time, for good reason.

    ReplyDelete
  13. @Jan: it certainly is.

    @Beth: they built this one well.

    @Eileen: thank you!

    @Red: it's an iconic architectural element of the country.

    @Grace: and so am I.

    @Sharon: I suspect that might be new. I can't recall it from my last time in the building.

    @Lois: they really stand out.

    @Lowell: these days it's hard to think of optimism.

    ReplyDelete
  14. To use your word from your previous post---Magnificent!
    MB

    ReplyDelete
  15. A grand place, and that stained glass window...

    ReplyDelete
  16. That must have been an interesting tour!

    ReplyDelete
  17. the whole place is amazing...love that ceiling!

    ReplyDelete
  18. How suitably grand & very impressive!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I like the stained glass window of our flag!

    ReplyDelete
  20. @MB: it certainly is.

    @Karl: it has to be a relatively new element. I'd have remembered it.

    @Marleen: it certainly was.

    @Tanya: so do I.

    @Christine: very much so.

    @RedPat: it stands out so well.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Coincidentally, I just finished watching an episode of "The Crown".

    ReplyDelete
  22. Very impressive, I really like the stained glass window of the Canadian flag, it is gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
  23. More lovely inside photos of royalty ~

    Happy Week to you,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka, (A Creative Harbor)

    ReplyDelete
  24. They did great buildings back in the day.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Why don't modern buildings strike that note of elegance, beauty, and function? Or am I just too old fashioned in my likes and dislikes?

    ReplyDelete
  26. @Revrunner: I have yet to see that.

    @Bill: it most certainly is.

    @Carol: we've got a number of their portraits. I wonder how we'll fit in Charles when he becomes king.

    @Catalyst: they certainly did.

    @Mari: it depends on the building, of course, but a lot of modern architecture can be quite off putting. I like this style, Gothic, and we do have a lot of it in this city.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Looks like quite a grand structure and very imposing as well.

    ReplyDelete
  28. This is so very beautiful...well worth taking the tour.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Such a beautiful building. I really love the ceiling!

    ReplyDelete
  30. In case you didn't notice: I admire and love Canada!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Beautiful captures of the arcades.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Fabulous ... especially the ceiling.

    All the best Jan

    ReplyDelete
  33. I especially like the portraits of the two monarchs.

    ReplyDelete
  34. @Beatrice: it is.

    @Kay: I certainly think so.

    @Tamago: as do I.

    @Francisco: thanks!

    @Cloudia: thank you!

    @Klara: thanks!

    @Jan: I agree.

    @Norma: so do I.

    ReplyDelete