General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Large gouache painting in an aluminum frame.

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

N/A

Width

61.5 cm

Height

77.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Energy-electric

Category

Miscellaneous

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Unknown

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

City

Unknown

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

Period

1950s - 2014

Canada

The painting depicts Moloney Electric Co. transformer repair shop founded in 1909 in Windsor, Ont. with operations in Ontario, Alberta and New Brunswick. The artist Frank Armstrong, although a talented painter with some art education, spent his career as a repairman at Moloney. The male figures are depicted in heroic poses and are being glorified for their hard work and for making and important contribution to society. The composition style is reminiscent of Socialist Realism. This style of realistic art was developed in the Soviet Union and became a dominant style in other socialist countries during the 1930's-40's, having as its purpose the futherance of the goals of socialism and communism and the glorification of workers. It is very likely that the artist picked up on this artistic trend during his art study at the Central Technical School in Toronto, during a time when socialism was sweeping through Canada of the Depression years in the 1930's.

Function

Artistic depiction of a transformer repair shop.

Technical

The painting, done in the socio-realism style, depicts work on Ontario Hydro transformers, now in the national collection. The artist exhibits excellent artisitic skills, attention to detail and familiarity with the processes in the shop. The architectural layout and details of the shop and its equipment makes the composition come alive.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

At the bottom right corner of the painting: " J.F. ARMSTRONG " On the back of the frame: " THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT THIS ORIGINAL PAINTING IS BY MY FATHER JOHN FRANKLIN (FRANK) ARMSTRONG. HE PAINTED IT /. IN THE EARLY 1950'S WHILE HE WAS EMPLOYED BY MOLONEY ELECTRIC CO. THE SCENE DEPICTS WORKERS REPAIRING /. LARGE ONTARIO HYDRO TRANSFORMERS AT THE MOLONEY SHOP /. IT WAS ONE OF TWO PAINTINGS, ONE OF WHICH WAS /. STOLEN WHILE MOVING, ALONG WITH ITS' SKETCHES. MY FATHER JOINED ONTARIO HYDRO IN THE 1960'S AND WORKED /. IN THE PICKERING POWER PLANT UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT. /. DAUGHTER /. JANICE ARMSTRONG (with address) /. JANICE ARMSTRONG (handwritten signature)

Missing

Appears complete.

Finish

Large gouache coloured painting. Painting is placed inside protective aluminium frame with glass layer. Eggshell colored matting bordering the painting. On the back of the frame there are multiple silver metal screws along the edge of the frame. There is a metal hanging wire and a white sheet of (possible) corrugated coroplast sheet protecting the back of the painting.

Decoration

N/A