C. Anthony Law and 'An Artist's Paradise' - Saint Mary's University

189 Pages·2010·3.62 MB·English

C. Anthony Law and 'An Artist's Paradise'
By
Lieutenant Commander Pat Jessup, MMM, CD
A Thesis submitted to
Saint Mary's University, Halifax, Nova Scotia
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for
The Degree of Master of Arts in Atlantic Studies
May, 2009, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Copyright Pat Jessup, 2009
Approved: Prof. John Reid
Supervisor
Approved: Dr. David Howard,
NSCADU
Examiner
Approved: Dr. Kirrily Freeman
Examiner
Date: May 8, 2009
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Abstract
C. Anthony Law and 'An Artist's Paradise'
By
Lieutenant Commander Pat Jessup, MMM, CD
C. Anthony Law was a classically trained artist whose style was rooted in the
Group of Seven. He was also an accomplished and well-respected officer in the
Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), renowned for his intellect, skill at sea and for
painting naval action during the Second World War. During the Cold War, Law
carried on with his art and recorded RCN activities from the Arctic to Easter
Island in addition to painting the landscape of Nova Scotia. Upon retirement from
the RCN, Law was appointed the first artist-in-residence at Saint Mary's
University (SMU) where he nurtured artistic minds for twelve years. Using
leadership skills, fine-tuned on the bridges of Canadian warships, Law contributed
significantly to the establishment of cultural institutions in Atlantic Canada,
namely the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia and SMU's Art Gallery. 'An Artist's
Paradise' explores Law's notable artistic and military careers.
September 16, 2009.
C. ANTHONY LAW AND 'AN ARTIST'S PARADISE'
C. Anthony Law
Williams Lake, NS
nd
Courtesy of Gerry Shortt
Lieutenant Commander Pat Jessup, MMM, CD
C. ANTHONY LAW AND A PAINTER'S PARADISE
TABLE OF CONTENTS i
DEDICATION ii
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS vi
PREFACE vii
INTRODUCTION 1
CHAPTER ONE 1
C. ANTHONY LAW AND THE EARLY YEARS
EARLY TRAINING, INFLUENCES AND
THE FIRST WORLD WAR ART PROGRAM
CHAPTER TWO 30
MARCHING AS TO WAR
TONY LAW AND THE RCNVR
THE SECOND WORLD WAR ART PROGRAM and
THE CANADIAN NAVAL WAR ARTISTS
LT TONY LAW - WAR ARTIST
CHAPTER THREE 87
THE PAINTING COMMANDER
MAGGIE'S DRAWERS
THE TRUE NORTH STRONG AND FREE
HMCS SIOUX AND THE CUBAN MISSLE CRISIS
THE MIGHTY HMCS CAPE SCOTT
CHAPTER FOUR: 126
A PAINTER'S PARADISE
CHAPTER FIVE 140
REMEMBERING TONY LAW
BIBLIOGRAPHY 150
APPENDIX A 160
INSTRUCTIONS TO WAR ARTISTS
APPENDIX B 162
LIST OF EXHIBITIONS
DEDICATION
This thesis is dedicated to those have served Canada and continue to serve.
Go forth into the world in peace;
Be of good courage;
Hold fast to that which is good;
Render to no man evil for evil;
Strengthen the faint-hearted;
Support the weak; help the afflicted:
Honour all men.
I Chronicles 22:13
1 Thessalonians 5:21
1 Thessalonians 5:15
1 Thessalonians 5:14
u
ABBREVIATIONS
AGNS Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
APAC Atlantic Provinces Art Circuit
BEF British Expeditionary Force
CAFCAP Canadian Armed Forces Civilian Artists Program
CDR Commander
CEF Canadian Expeditionary Force
CFB Canadian Forces Base
CFS Canadian Forces Station
C-in-C Commander-in-Chief
Cmdre Commodore
CPO Chief Petty Officer
CO Commanding Officer
CWMF Canadian War Memorials Fund
CWM Canadian War Museum
CWR Canadian War Records
CWRO Canadian War Records Office
DHH Directorate of History and Heritage
DND Department of National Defence
DSC Distiguished Service Cross
E-Boat Elbing Class
IWM Imperial War Museum
HMS His or Her Majesty's Ships
111
HMCS His or Her Majesty's Canadian Ships
HRO Historical Research Officer
LAC Library and Archives Canada
LCdr Lieutenant Commander (Modern version)
LtCdr Lieutenant Commander (WWII style)
Lt Lieutenant (WWII style)
MCAC McMichael Canadian Art Collection
MMA Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
MMC Maritime Museum of Canada
MID Mentioned in Dispatches
MTB Motor Torpedo Boat
MGB Motor Gun Boat
NASA North American Space Agency
NDHQ National Defence Headquarters
NGC National Gallery of Canada
NL Newfoundland
NO Navigating Officer
NSCA Nova Scotia College of Art
NSMFA Nova Scotia Museum of Fine Art
NSSA Nova Scotia Society of Artists
OBE Order of the British Empire
OSA Ontario Society of Artists
PO Petty Officer
RAdm Rear-Admiral
RAF Royal Air Force
RCA Royal Canadian Academy of Artists
RCAF Royal Canadian Air Force
RCN Royal Canadian Navy
RCNVR Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve
RN Royal Navy
SAM Shearwater Aviation Museum
SCNO Senior Canadian Naval Officer
SMU Saint Mary's University
SLt Sub-Lieutenant
SOSUS Sound Surveillance System
SSA Sheffield School of Art
UNB University of New Brunswick
USCG United States Coast Guard
USN United States Navy
VAdm Vice Admiral
WAAC War Artists Advisory Committee
WWI The First World War
WWII The Second World War
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This thesis owes its greatest debt of gratitude to my paternal Grandmother Teresa Pearl
Thompson Jessup (1899-1996) who followed the course charted by the Group of Seven
and whose vision, compassion, love of the land and artistic sensibility inspires me every
day.
I also owe a great debt of gratitude to the Canadian Navy, in particular the Canadian
Forces Base Halifax Base Commanders: Captain (Navy) Marc St. Jean, Captain (Navy)
Bill Woodburn and Captain (Navy) John Newton who afforded me the "sea-room" to
undertake this study.
I am no less indebted to my advisor Dr. John Reid, for his unflagging interest, friendship
and encouragement during my years at Saint Mary's University. Dr. Reid's consistent
and fair counsel kept my spirits buoyed as I delved into my research on Tony Law.
I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design
University and specifically my professors Dr. David Howard and Mary MacLachlan who
are responsible for stoking the fires of academic creativity and encouraging me to carry
on at Saint Mary's.
Much appreciation is extended to the staff at the Canadian War Museum, the Art Gallery
of Nova Scotia, the Shearwater Aviation Museum, the Imperial War Museum, the
Beaverbrook Art Gallery, the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, the Library and Archives
of Canada, Saint Mary's University and the Directorate of History and Heritage of the
Department of National Defence. In particular I would like to recognize Maggie Arbour-
Doucette, Robin Metcalfe, Hansell Cook, Christine Hines, Dr. Dianne O'Neill, Troy
Wagner, Dr. David Campbell and Dan Conlin for always going the "extra mile" in their
support.
My sincere thanks to Virginia Beaton, Dr. Guy Chauvin, Lieutenant Commander (LCdr)
Douglas Thomas, Captain(N) Colin Plows and my husband LCdr Jim Reddy for their
enthusiastic editorial guidance and technical expertise.
I am also grateful to Jane Shaw Law, Bernard Riordon, Ian Muncaster, Dr. Paul Price,
Commander (Cdr) Tony German and Commodore (Cmdre) Charles Westropp for their
valued contribution and for introducing me to Charles Anthony Law through their vivid
and personal memories.
Most of all I wish to thank my husband for standing my watch, taking extra duties and
running a tight ship while I was researching and writing. Also my sincere thanks to my
sister Jane Bissonnette, my children, Rory, Shane and Meghan, and my Mother Diana,
Mrs. Janet Piers, and Vice-Admiral Ralph and Diana Hennessy for their ongoing
encouragement, patience and especially for their understanding. You have been my
greatest source of personal support.
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