WIP Critique 1/6 Sculpt Maj. Talbot Papineau PPCLI October 1917

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Colin_Fraser

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My next 1/6 sculpt will be a bust portrait of Major Talbot Mercer Papineau, born of a famous French-Canadian lineage, considered a sure thing for the highest levels of politics post-war, and killed in action at Passchendaele much to the sadness of many in Canada and Britain.

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He was played by a son of another famous Quebec family in a 2007 CBC mini-series, "The Great War." The mini series told the story of 150 modern Canadians and how they connected with their ancestors. It was an inspired documentary. Justin Trudeau, eldest son of the iconic Canadian PM of the 70's, played Papineau surprisingly effectively, perhaps because they had so may commonalities he could connect with the character. Trudeau is now leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and stands a reasonable chance of becoming PM.



I first ran across Papineau in Sandra Gwyn's book "Tapestry of War," which profiled 4 Canadians in the Great War. Her book reads like a novel and her description of the consequences of, and reaction to Papineau's loss make it clear that he was seen by many of the time as analogy for the potential never fulfilled by a generation due to that cataclysm.

From the Dictionary of Canadian Biography:

PAPINEAU, TALBOT MERCER, lawyer and army officer; b. 25 March 1883 in Montebello, Que., second of the four sons of Louis-Joseph Papineau and Caroline Rogers; great-grandson of Louis-Joseph Papineau*; d. unmarried 30 Oct. 1917 in Passchendaele (Passendale), Belgium.
Talbot Mercer Papineau was a beau idéal of his generation: handsome, clever and athletic, a gifted orator and writer, impeccably bilingual, and possessed of a charismatic personality. His brief life continues to symbolize all the bright promise cut down by World War I. Although he bore one of Quebec’s most famous surnames, his lineage was largely American and his upbringing mainly in English. The dominant influence of his childhood was his strong-willed and ambitious mother, a member of a prominent family from Philadelphia. Papineau was brought up a Protestant and he was educated at the High School of Montreal and at McGill Universitet he described himself as a “French Canadian” and his boyhood at Montebello, in the Papineau family’s seigneury of Petite-Nation, instilled in him an attachment to the Quebec landscape that was close to metaphysical.

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In 1905 Papineau received one of the first Rhodes scholarships awarded to a Canadian. He read law at Brasenose College, Oxford, achieved a second, and rowed stroke for the college eight. After returning to Montreal in 1908, he set up a law practice and began a career in public life. Thus far, his political ideas were eclectic; a strong believer in free trade, he was also a member of the Montreal chapter of the Round Table, a forum on imperial federation. Probably through the influence of his cousin Henri Bourassa, who founded Le Devoir in 1910, Papineau also began to cultivate an interest in Quebec culture. The most concrete expression of his developing political philosophy is found in a letter written in October 1915. “Especially, I want to see Canadian pride based on substantial achievements, and not on the supercilious and fallacious sense of self-satisfaction we have borrowed from England.”

At the outbreak of war in August 1914 Papineau rushed to enlist in the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. His reasons for volunteering were straightforward. The war was both an adventure and the educated bet of a careerist. Although he had never joined the militia, he was well aware that a good service record would further his political fortunes. Papineau was instantly commissioned a lieutenant. He proved to be both resourceful and mettlesome. He received one of the first Military crosses of the war to be awarded to Canadians for his role as co-leader of a successful raid at Saint-Eloi (Sint-Elooi), Belgium, during the night of 27–28 Feb. 1915. By May of that year, having survived the battle of Frezenberg Ridge, in which his regiment suffered massive losses, he was the only officer of the original complement not to have been killed, wounded, or sent off sick. That summer, promoted captain, he embarked on one of the most remarkable correspondences engendered by the war, with a young woman he had never met, a sculptor in Philadelphia named Beatrice Fox. As he later said, he was in search of a relationship that could be “absolutely natural and free from the artificialities which surround so generally the intercourse between men and women.” Nearly all of his letters are preserved, along with those he wrote almost daily to his mother. His style is alive and assured, his observations acute, his accounts of his own feelings candid and unsparing.

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In February 1916, through the influence of Sir William Maxwell Aitken (later Lord Beaverbrook) head of the Canadian War Records Office, Papineau became a staff officer. That June he was seconded to the staff of the War Records Office, based at the headquarters of the Canadian Corps in France. His duties included writing press communiqués and directing photographers and cinematographers. At this time, he also continued to develop his political ideas. “The issue in Canada after the war is going to be between Imperialism and Nationalism,” he wrote to Beatrice Fox on 16 March 1916. “My whole inclination is towards an independent Canada with all the attributes of sovereignty, including its responsibilities.”

Papineau’s single contribution to public debate also dates from this period. As early as 1915 he had described the second battle of Ypres as “the birth-pangs of our nationality.” Yet within Canada, because of Quebec’s reluctance to participate, the war had become a bitterly divisive issue. To Papineau’s anger, the principal voice opposed to the war was that of his cousin Bourassa. Papineau’s challenge took the form of an open letter to Bourassa, published first in the Montreal Gazette on 28 July 1916. “As I write, French and English Canadians are fighting and dying side by side,” said the most eloquent passage. “Is their sacrifice to go for nothing or will it not cement a foundation for a true Canadian nation, . . . independent in thought, independent in action, independent even in its political organization – but in spirit united for high international and humane purposes to the two Motherlands of England and France?” Elsewhere in his letter, he expressed the political course he intended to follow once the war was ended. “As a [French] minority in a great English-speaking continent, . . . we must rather seek to find points of contact and of common interest than points of friction and separation. We must make certain concessions and certain sacrifices of our distinct individuality if we mean to live on amicable terms with our fellow citizens or if we expect them to make similar concessions to us.”

Bourassa’s reply to Papineau was published a week later. Much of his argument was ironic and ad hominem, but he made some telling points. Opposed to the war because he was opposed to imperialism and its exploitation of people, he drew parallels between the sufferings of the Belgians at the hand of the Germans and those of Franco-Ontarians under Regulation 17. “To preach Holy War for the ‘liberties of peoples’ overseas, and to oppress the national minorities within Canada is, in our opinion, nothing but odious hypocrisy.”

In the short term, Papineau won most of the honours. Overnight he became a national hero. He also gained a certain international reputation. On 22 Aug. 1916 the London Times reprinted his letter almost entirely, under the heading “The soul of Canada.” These cousins defined with eloquence the terms of a debate about the character of their country which could be reprinted virtually unchanged today.

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In June 1917, shortly after the battle of Vimy Ridge, Papineau returned to active service with the PPCLI as the commander of a company. So far as can be judged from his letters, this decision was motivated by an inseparable blend of patriotism and ambition. As a staff officer, he had been nagged by a sense of guilt. “More friends have gone,” he wrote to Beatrice Fox on 30 Sept. 1916. “By what strange law am I still here? What right have I to selfish pleasure any longer?” Calculation impelled him as well. As the commanding officer of the PPCLI, Lieutenant-Colonel Agar Stewart Allan Masterton Adamson, wrote to his wife, Ann Mabel Cawthra, on 11 May 1917, Papineau “intended to go into public life after the war and thought that he would have a better chance . . . if he could show he had been with the Regiment through some big push like the last one.”

Papineau was promoted acting major in August 1917. Late that October the regiment was moved to Passchendaele as the spearhead of an assault. It attacked at 6:00 a.m. on 30 October. Papineau’s last recorded words before going over the top, spoken to Major Hugh Wilderspin Niven, were “You know, Hughie, this is suicide.” He was hit by a shell as he left the trench.

Without doubt, memorialized the Ottawa Citizen, he had been destined to fill a high place in public life. “Many people who had no personal acquaintance with him regarded him as the one man specially fitted to lead in the task of reconciling the two races.” In Britain, the Daily Mail saluted him as “A lost leader.” In the absence of tangible achievements, it is difficult to assign him his proper place in history. No other figure provides a more arresting metaphor for Canada during the war years: the reality of promise unfulfilled; the burgeoning of Canadian nationalism, but also the widening gap between the two cultures. “Nearly 35 I am, and very little or nothing done,” Papineau wrote to his mother shortly before the battle of Passchendaele. Yet he was wrong. His remarkable letters from the front are the Canadian voice of World War I, a reminder of all that was lost there.
 
I start a face by forming a sclupey (firm) shape on an old bathroom tile. I add quite a lot of sculpey dilutant to the base putty. I then begin to rough in the shape of the face with a #11 blade, removing material and establishing the planes of the face.

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I will try to post the various sculpting and painting steps as I proceed in this project.

Colin
 
For eyeballs, I added two green orbs previously made from duro. Getting these properly positioned is key. Using hard epoxy eyeballs allows the lids to be laid in a properly sculpted without crushing the forms underneath. One can also use baked sculpey orbs. I find using a different colour allows one to more clearly see the exposed part of the eyeball and balance the eye shapes.

More smoothing of the putty with a clay shaper and additional slicing with the Xacto blade. Still looks pretty horrible but I am posting as many shots as possible so you can see how it evolves. This stage moves along pretty quickly. Its important to try to get the foundation of the face matched to your subject face shape.

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Colin
 
Go Colin! Papineau has always fascinated me ever since I first read his story in Gwyn's book. I even got to see his name carved on the Menin Gate at Ypres with students, and was able to relate his story. Can you imagine what our country would be like today if he had remained at his staff job and survived, instead of rejoining his regiment? Truly the cost of war is incalculable. Needless to say, I will watch with great interest.
 
Colin ,

Yet agan anoter excellent choice of subjects and a fittting tribute to a very brave soldier , what an inspirational man he was like the way you start you SBS with detailed background info on the model ...will follow this with interest .

Thanks for sharing

Nap
 
You have definitely done your homework on this very important figure in Canadian history... Our history. As I read your backstory, I had some vague memories of Grade 9, Canadian History under Dr. Scott... My favourite teacher of all. Perhaps if Papineau had survived, the wedge between French and English Canada would be substantially thinner... and I wouldn't have had to rewrite my Certificate of Qualification in French to work in Quebec :mad:

Not only is this an interesting and important subject but I will be hanging off every post of your SBS. Maybe I'll take a shot at a bust using this SBS as a 'shop manual'.

Good Luck with this project my Brother

Colin
 
Some more progress. Filled in around his eyes, established his cheeks bones, filled in below nose and mouth, added chin. No nostrils as of yet but almost time to bake first time and then more carving away and adding clay as needed. Not much of a likeness so far so more manipulation required.

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Colin
 
'stache and nostrils added.

You may be interested to note that a lot of the facial muscles are sculpted by brush. I add material and press it into rough shape with a clay shaper of the appropriate size and shape. Then I use a paintbrush wetted with sculpey dilutante to sculpt the shapes of the muscles under the skin and to smooth the clay to get a good surface texture.

Likeness is improving. Face shape is still wrong - especially forehead and jaw line - but that is fixable. I think his chin is too long as well so that may entail some surgery.

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Colin
 
You are just burning through this one. You're right, the chin in the portrait is much shorter from lip to chin... right shape just a hair too long.

It's amazing to watch the likeness develope

Colin
 
You are just burning through this one. You're right, the chin in the portrait is much shorter from lip to chin... right shape just a hair too long.

It's amazing to watch the likeness develope

Colin

I am off this week like you :) Lots of modelling time as a result. I have spent about 3 hours on this dude so far so my speed is improving.

Colin

Go Colin! Papineau has always fascinated me ever since I first read his story in Gwyn's book. I even got to see his name carved on the Menin Gate at Ypres with students, and was able to relate his story. Can you imagine what our country would be like today if he had remained at his staff job and survived, instead of rejoining his regiment? Truly the cost of war is incalculable. Needless to say, I will watch with great interest.

Glen - nice to have someone else watching who has also read Gwyn. I envy you seeing Papineau's entry in the Menin Gate. I thought that Gwyn did a marvellous job in painting the Camelot-like loss of innocence in Canada during the war and the love affair between Papineau and Beatrice Fox, two people separated by an ocean, who never met and who fell deeply in love through their written correspondence.

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Colin
 
A bit more progress. Shortened his chin.

Added the rough in for the back of his head in MS. It looks a bit small because I need to leave room for a very full head of hair - yet to come.

Roughed in his ears but first pressing a hole for the ear canals into the MS. Once dried, I added two very rough outer ear forms in MS (I used to use sculpey for this but it breaks too easily). I pressed into the inner ear recess with a clay shaper to preserve it for later sculpting of the ear. I still need to shape the outer ears with a carbide scraper.

The jaw line has yet to be established properly too and his neck (sculpey) is only roughed in.

I am finding that the sculpey firm and MS are quite compatable.

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Still doesn't look too much like Papineau - I think it will take a head of hair to bring him closer. Colin will get this...I think he looks a bit like Jack Layton...I think it's his 'stache though. :confused: (welcome back smileys)

Colin
 
Hello Colin, First, thanks for the background history to introduce everyone to Maj. Papineau. I'm enjoying your SBS, and your sculpting looks great so far. Looking on with interest. Best of luck along the way. Regards, SG:)(y)(y)
 
Hi Colin,

Keep up the good work. Jack Layton, naw...

Interesting history. I never knew about this guy. Don't think he would have made a difference in politics. The story gets messy when Justin appears all of a sudden... Do Talbot and Justin should mix, heeuw?

[ChaosCossack (the other Colin), You're still welcome in Quebec. We'll let you in. Hahaha.]

Cheers,

Patrick
 
Patrick - you likely never heard of him because he was pro-British empire and of US parentage. I agree that they have built up a bit of a political myth surrounding Papineau. I don't know how someone can peg someone as a future PM when still a junior officer in the infantry. Re. Justin...I would vote for Groucho if he could send Harpo on his way.

Cheers

Colin
 
Colin,

Here's my 2 cents. He needs to be made younger. I would:

- add more volume under the eyes (less or no eyebag)
- diminish the volume of the chin, under the lower lip, recess it back
- diminish/fill the natural line (wrinkle) between the cheek and the upper lip
- increase the width of the jaw at the back (where the lower wisdom teeth are located)
- widen the forehead at the top towards the side.

You did the cheekbones well, but add more volume on the right side of the eye (to maintain symmetry). Quite a good subject.

[It reads like I met the character, but my comments are just based on the picture you provide.]

Cheers,

Patrick
 
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