Thursday, November 29, 2018

Within Regeneration Hall

The passageway noted in yesterday's post leads to Regeneration Hall, one of two architectural focal points of the War Museum. This is the large triangular spike rising up at the front of the museum as I showed it in my first post. From the upper balcony, one gets a fleeting glimpse of the Peace Tower through the window, a deliberate choice by the architect. Taking the stairs or the elevator to the lower floor brings the visitor down to a series of sculptures that occupy this space. The group gathered below were listening to one of the Museum staffers give a talk about these sculptures and the model of the memorial beside her. Passing by a large painting at the top of the stairs with the theme of sacrifice (you'll see it in a shot below), I descended the stairs.


In the aftermath of the First World War, it was determined to erect a large memorial in France at Vimy Ridge, the battle site where many Canadians gave their lives to achieve victory, a place that holds great meaning for the country. Sculptor Walter Allward created these maquettes as part of his proposal for the Vimy Memorial, and his was the selected choice. Allegorical figures adorn the Memorial at Vimy Ridge, larger than you see here- these maquettes are larger than life, but half-scale of those on the Memorial. They are men and women, both looking like something out of classical sculpture, but each conveying a tone of profound mourning. They are part of the Museum's collection, and most of them are placed in this area.


Another large painting stands on a wall close by. Unveiling Vimy Ridge Monument is a 1937 painting by Georges Bertin Scott. It depicts the 1936 opening of the Memorial. Dignitaries in the painting include King Edward VIII (perhaps the only painting in Ottawa of the short reign of the Duke of Windsor, as there's no portrait of him in Parliament that I know of) leading the way.


Coming out of Regeneration Hall leads into Lebreton Gallery, which is filled with military vehicles and equipment from multiple countries and across time. They include this one man German submarine from the Second World War.


This, for instance, is the RG-31 Nyala Armoured Personnel Carrier, which saw service during the Afghan War.


Two massive plaques occupy a wall in here. Eaton's was a department store chain in Canada (until the present day Eaton clan pretty much screwed up the business and it vanished into oblivion). These two plaques stood in the company's Toronto flagship store, commemorating the 578 employees who were killed while serving during both World Wars. Tomorrow I bring this series to a conclusion.

30 comments:

  1. A very big place to house the beautiful sculptures, paintings and exhibits.

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  2. ...wonderful sculptures in a drama space!

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  3. The Vimy Ridge Monument is a very impressive architectural memorial along with those monumental and profound sculptures.

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  4. Everthing in today's post seems so massive! Vimy Ridge must be impressive in person.

    Janis
    GDP

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  5. That Vimy Ridge Monument is really huge and the sculptures are beautiful.

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  6. Hello, it is a wonderful museum. I love all the statues. Happy Thursday, enjoy your day!

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  7. Despite the reason and the mourning the sculptures are beautiful.
    Oh, a one man submarine sounds really scary.

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  8. @Nancy: it certainly is.

    @Tom: I agree.

    @Francisco: thanks!

    @Rosemary: definitely.

    @Janis: I'd love to see it someday.

    @Jan: they are.

    @Eileen: thanks!

    @Iris: it had to be a harbour patrol sub- it's too small to even stand up in, and would be too cramped to be in for more than a few hours.

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  9. Thanks for sharing some monuments and equipment either from wars, or in honor of those who fought and died in them.

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  10. I have enjoyed learning so much from this series. Those maquettes are very moving. Thank you for the detailed history.

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  11. Hello William!
    Great post and wonderful pictures!
    The Vimy Ridge Monument is very impressive and all the sculptures are so beautiful!
    Thank you for sharing! Have a lovely day!
    Dimi...

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  12. I think the Vimy Ridge Monument must be one of the most beautiful pieces of sculpture I've seen William, lovely to see the smaller details here.

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  13. Some very powerful sculpture to vividly show the loss people experienced.

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  14. The architecture of this museum is amazing.

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  15. @Barbara: you're welcome.

    @DJan: it's been a pleasure to do so.

    @Marie: so do I.

    @Dimi: you're welcome.

    @Grace: I certainly agree.

    @Red: most definitely.

    @Sharon: it is indeed.

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  16. Hi William. Great banner. Also, I like the shield in the last picture.

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  17. The sorrow in the Vimy Ridge Monument is so powerful even in the pics so one can only imagine seeing it in real life.
    I remember those plaques from Eaton's although I can't remember exactly where they were located in the store.

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  18. The Vimy Ridge Monument is so very impressive and beautiful. Thank you William for another wonderful post.

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  19. i am curious about that painting with the 2 tall walls ...making the people look so small. is that a real wall? ... is it really that tall? or just an artist being way creative? either way ... very cool. i enjoy it. ( ;

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  20. @Whisk: thank you!

    @RedPat: at some point years ago I'd seen them in there too.

    @Bill: you're welcome.

    @Mari: thank you.

    @Beth: the monument really is that big.

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  21. It's so vast there it's almost overwhelming. But then, I guess that says something about humans and wars, doesn't it?

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  22. I remember Eaton's. Quite a store. No longer there?

    That's a remarkable view from the gallery and those statues are particularly stunning. It would be worth it just to see those.

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  23. Powerful post and photos ~

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

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  24. Goodness, the Vimy Ridge Monument is very impressive.

    All the best Jan

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  25. I think the Vimy Ridge painting is my favourite. People working together, but such losses.

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  26. @Kay: that's true.

    @Jeanie: not anymore.

    @Carol: thank you.

    @Jan: it is indeed.

    @Klara: very much so.

    @Jennifer: that's true.

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