02 Works, The Art of War, Kenneth Forbes' Canadian Artillery in Action, with footnotes

Kenneth Forbes  (1892–1980)

Canadian Artillery in Action, c. 1918

Oil on canvas

height: 157.5 cm (62 in); width: 245.3 cm (96.5 in)

Canadian War Museum

A Canadian 6-inch howitzer supports British troops in the attack on Thiepval on 16 July 1916 during the Somme offensive. The artist captures the exhaustion of the gunners, who appear to have been firing for hours. Prolonged exposure to the noise and shock artillery fire would rupture ear drums and ruin hearing. Most gunners suffered at least partial deafness as a result of their war service.

Kenneth Forbes  (1892–1980)

Study; Canadian Artillery in Action, c. 1918

Oil on canvas

height: 157.5 cm (62 in); width: 245.3 cm (96.5 in)

Canadian War Museum

Kenneth Forbes had been wounded and gassed. "I had been in the front line trenches for over two years and had just been promoted to second-in-command of the 32nd Machine Gun Co. which includes the rank of Captain, when I received an order to report to Col. Barry... he informed me that I was to report to the Canadian War Memorials, London and be transferred to the Canadian Army." Canadian Artillery in Action reconstructs an incident on July 16, 1916, during the Battle of the Somme. Suffering under an intense barrage that resulted in many casualties, the Canadian gunners nevertheless stayed at their posts. More on this painting

Kenneth Forbes (1892 - 1980) was born in Toronto, Ontario. He started drawing at the age of four and received instruction from his father, a distinguished portrait painter. He was educated in Westmount Academy and then studied art in England.

One of his paintings was accepted by the Royal Academy in London in 1910 and purchased for the Lord Leverhulme collection. He became a private in 1914 in the Stock Exchange Battalion, London, of the Royal Fusiliers. He saw service in France in the machine gun corps and was wounded twice, mentioned in dispatches twice, and was invalided to England in 1916. He was promoted to Lieut., Machine Gun Corps, later, Captain, 2nd in Command, 32nd Machine Gun Corps.

He was recalled to London and transferred to Canadian War Records Office as a painter. He painted two large canvases, The Defence of Sanctuary Wood and Canadian Artillery in Action, and four portraits. He later returned to Toronto, where he resumed his career painting mainly portraits and occasional landscapes.

He was once quoted on his approach to painting as follows, "Traditional art is based on resemblance to nature, but to become a work of art it must have conception, composition and style, none of which is found in photographs."

He died in Toronto at the age of 88. More on Kenneth Forbes

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