Canadian Infantryman, 1918.

Augustus John

MOD431 - oil on canvas, 81cm x 71cm.

Politics, people and preservation are closely linked in the collection. the portraits cover a vast area - some officially commisions, some presented or bequeathed - including politicians, military and naval commanders, and other people associated with the process of defending the United Kingdom over four hundred years.

The MOD Art Collection includes several hundred portraits of varying finesse and interest.

All, even those of a lesser artistic technique and political sophistication, are cherished and hung in locations appropriate to their subjects.

One of the very best portraits in the collection, this portrait by Augustus John of a Canadian Infantryman is fascinating because like so many of the war artist's output, the subject's identity is unknown.

Because we know nothing of the man - nothing of his background, family, attitude towards what he was doing - he takes on an iconic significance; he symbolizes both the victors and victims of war and has become, for the Armed Forces, our universal "Unknown Soldier".

The Canadian Infantryman was painted by Augustus John in 1918, when he accepted a commission with the Canadian Expeditionary Force in order to produce a series of war portraits.

The work is signed and dated on the reverse of canvas, and was donated to the Collection.

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Canadian Infantryman, 1918.

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