This mandolin (20″ x 30″ — Oil/Canvas — 2009) was made in the 1890s in Sicily by Luigi Fenga. I posted a picture of me working on this painting in April here.

In 1919 a young man named Robert McPherson was serving as a medic in the Canadian 29th Infantry Battalion during WWI. He picked up this mandolin second hand in Belgium before he returned home. In 1965, as an elderly man, Mr. McPerhson befriended a young man and his family who were renting a cabin on the same property he lived on and eventually gave them the mandolin as a gift. My connection… I know the sister-in-law to the once young man in the 60s who received the mandolin from Mr. McPherson. He was kind enough to lend me it as a subject for painting.

I’m fascinated by the lineage and connected stories objects can have. It’s easy to conjure up visions of a young soldier playing the mandolin, likely one of few momentary escapes in what would have been an unimaginable time.

I did some research and found these two photographs of the 29th Battalion. There’s no way of knowing if Mr. McPherson is in these photos or knew these fellows, but they give perspective to the time, place and atmosphere.

Comments

  1. David Parker says:

    Great painting, and what a cool story to go along with it. The strings must have been a chore to keep parallel.

    I just recently discovered your site and I have to say your work is truly amazing. Very inspiring.

  2. Books,Coffee,etc.... says:

    Hi! Christopher Stott,
    What a very interesting tale,(connections) and pictures…as a “background”…to go along with your very “beautiful” painting…of the
    Mandolin.
    Thanks, for sharing!
    DeeDee ;-D

  3. Deb Schmit says:

    Great to return and see your finished piece. I’m intrigued by the history you are giving these works. The stories are as important as the antiques themselves. It would be neat as one of your collectors, to find a treasured note about this history hidden under the frame paper or maybe tucked in among the stretchers?
    Lovely work.

  4. Chris says:

    Thanks for the comments, everyone.

    @Deb: Hmm… I wonder if there’s a way to sneak a note along with the painting. Having the story with the painting is kinda cool. Perhaps I should communicate that to the gallery…

Comments are closed.