Here is my substantially complete 1/6 portrait of Wilhelm Canaris, head of the German military intelligence service (Amt Ausland/Abwehr) between the years of 1935 to 1944. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Canaris He is holding one of his cherished wire haired dachsunds - Kasper. I still need to finish the stand under the bust (it's only undercoated) and I need to add the various devices (eg. crossed swords to his ribbon bar).

Why the dog? This quote by Walter Schellenberg provides some background - Canaris was a highly intelligent and sensitive man with many likeable qualities. He loved his dogs and his horse almost more than any other living creatures. He often said to me, 'Schellenberg, always remember the goodness of animals. You see, my dachshund is discreet and will never betray me — I cannot say that of any human being...'

The model is scratch built in super sculpey firm (the 2 heads) and magicsculpt. It is painted in various acrylics and inks.





If you haven't seen the SBS posts I did, here is a little background on Canaris. Wilhem Canaris was a decorated navy officer and U Boat commander in WWI. His true gift was intelligence work however. He was right wing, monarchist, nationalist and anti-Nazi. He loved the latin edge of Europe, especially Italy, Greece and Spain. He was personally responsible for German intervention in Spain in the civil war and was also personally responsible for encouraging Franco to not ally himself to Hitler, thus saving Gibralter and allowing continued British access to the Med. He also undermined Nazi plots to kidnap the Pope, to kill senior French officers like Generals Weygand and Giraud, and he assisted several hundred Jews escape Nazi clutches, including the Lubovicher Rebbe. There was a move sponsored by this Hasidic movement to name Canaris a righteous gentile a few years ago.

Most importantly, from my perspective, he encouraged the creation of a major and effective resistance cell within the Abwehr and provided cover for the various officers working against the Nazis from within that service. They included Oster, Groscurth, Dohnanyi, Bonhoeffer, Delbruck, Perels, Schrader, Heinz, Gisevius etc. Almost all of these men died through execution after the failure of the July 20 plot. Canaris and his immediate circle were executed in KZ Fossenburg in the last days of the war. They were subjected to a kangaroo court, stripped naked and hung early on the morning of April 9, 1945. There is evidence that Hitler ordered Canaris hung twice, once until almost dead, when he was revived and hung again. It took him a half hour to die. Canaris' personal diary had been found in a secret safe in the OKH Zossen HQ a few days before and when its contents were reported, the extent to which Canaris had ruined Hitler's war became known.

His last message, tapped out in morse to the Chief of Danish intelligence, a co-prisoner in a neighbouring cell who survived the war, was: "I die for my fatherland. I have a clear conscience. I only did my duty to my country when I tried to oppose the criminal folly of Hitler."

A great and fascinating man.

Colin

An excellent sculpt and a cracking paint job!

Well done Colin.

All the best,
Jon.

Ausgezeichnet, mein freund!
Like the base and nameplate, too!
Great work, Colin!
Cheers,
Zeno

Brilliant work in all areas Colin.
In general I really like the way that your work is developing.
I do not know what your thoughts are but for me this is your best sculpt and paint to date.
Very well done mate, more of your own stuff please.
All the very best,
Keith

A masterful work in all aspects Colin!

Joe

Hi Colin!

You did here a fantastic work in this original bust.
About the sculpting, i think is very similar with Admiral Canaris.
Regarding the paints you also did a great job. They look alive!
Congratulations!
Pedro.

Colin,
Great job and thanks for the history lesson.
Cheers
John

Thanks all.

Keith - yes I think this is my best sculpt so far as I took more time to try and get a likeness and he looks fairly close to me. He also look more like a real person than my prior work. Hopefully I can keep that going for next time. As I said earlier I learned a lot this time out.

I very much like doing my own pieces but don't really know how they are seen by others because I get too close to them and can't look at them objectively. That's especially the case as I tend to do portraits of historical characters I admire in some way. So honest comments on this and other sites are critical to getting some of that external perspective. All I would ask is that people feel free to constructively critique as that increases the value of that perspective.

Next up - CSA General Patrick Cleburne I think.

I think the darker base looks better - first coat only.



Colin

Colin, this photo looks much better and like I wrote previously this bust have a fantastic likeness with the real person.
If you take him to production surely would have good sales and would certainly become very popoular.
Keep the good work amigo!
Pedro.

Awesome!!!
Will you bring this to the group on July 7th?
Hope so

Great job brother

Colin

That eez zee plan. All my recent crap. Thanks eastern bro.

Colin

A wonderful result, Colin.
A excellent likeness and the finished piece is great tribute to the man, well done indeed.

I really look forward to seeing all the latest work in person... the last couple of busts and particularly the Italian Honour Guard. I hope everybody is able to make it that day.

Again, fantastic job

Colin S

I decided he was a bit too glossy so I applied some matte varnish, in this case an improvement I think.



Colin

1000% improvement for sure.

Colin an excellent likeness and a great finish. Congratulations and looking forward to following your Patrick Cleburne.

Cheers Ken

Yes, It's a great piece for sure , and the matt finish certainly makes it an excellent one...cheers Colin.

Hi Colin,
I will raise a glass of Banana Daiquiri in your honour. Great finish mate and agree with your bro 1000% better matted down.
cheers
Richie

Great work Sir .