The embassy of France in Ottawa, first part, 23th Issue.

 

Some history:

 

Canada reaches complete independence in 1931. France decides to build a Legation in Ottawa, capital of the country, which will be inaugurated in 1939. Closed during the war, it will become an embassy in 1945. The works begin in 1936 and the building will be inaugurated in 1939. It is a grey granite building on three floors, designed by the architect Eugène Beaudouin in the art deco, remarkable style for its architectural and artistic wealth. André Bizette-Lindet, Robert Cami, Louis Leygue, Charles-Emile Pinson, Jean Prouvé participated in his decoration and of course Alfred Courmes.

 

 

 

 The embassy of france in Ottawa

 

Some geography:

 

Ottawa, situated in the Ontario, is the federal capital of Canada. It counts a little more than 800.000 inhabitants.

 

 

 

 

" I had been anticipated, in 1937, by the architect Eugène Beaudouin to decorate the dining room of the embassy of France in Ottawa. Two laureates of the Rome prizes had been appointed to work also on this project. The engraver Finch was in charge of decorating the desk of the Secretary and Leygue sculptured for the lounge. Beaudouin had asked me for a work on wax. He wished that I make him a decoration in the style of Douanier Rousseau which was fashionable at that time. I decided to decorate in the Courmes style.

 

 

 

 

" Preparatory Drawing of the main wall ", 1937, Pencil and gouache on paper (50 x 187 cm), national Museum of modern art - Georges Pompidou Center, Paris. ©adagp

 

" I worked on more than two hundred drawings before leaving. By arriving to Ottawa, the walls on which I had to paint were not even coated. While walls dried, I redrew all the project of decoration. I so had time to become soaked with the atmosphere, to enter the light and to rethink all my fresco on the very wall I had to decorate ".

 

 

 

 "Preparatory Drawings ", 1938, Pencil on paper. Private ownership. ©adagp

 

 

 "Preparatory Drawings ", 1938, Pencil on paper. Private ownership. ©adagp

 

 

" The subject of this fresco, which had been imposed by Paris, was " joyful France ". To handle this theme, I choose the region Provence which I knew well. I was inspired by the VenetianSchool where the characters live and act in the center stage, but backward appear architectures and landscapes which emphasize the actors of the fresco, identify them and place them in the story "

À noter: Cette fresque est aussi appelée "La France heureuse".

 

 

 

 

 

 " The fish market ", 1938, Pencil on paper and, 1936,  Pencil and gouache on paper. Private ownership.  ©adagp

 

 

 

"Preparatory study",1938, gouache on paper. Private ownership. ©adagp

 

 

 

 

 

View of the current dining room.

 

 

 

In the next chapter you will discover the fresco and its execution. Good reading and good painting.