The Munnings Museum

On the evening of Wednesday 5th September, we hosted a private viewing for professional connections of the war paintings of Sir Alfred Munnings which were commissioned by the Canadian Cavalry Brigade at the end of the First World War. These were exhibited for the first and only time in Great Britain at the Royal Academy in 1919 and were then permanently housed at the Canadian War Museum. This collection transformed Munnings to an artist of international renown and brought him substantial financial security as well as membership of the Royal Academy.

Through the support of the Beaverbrook Canadian Foundation and to mark the centenary of the first exhibition, the paintings were loaned to the National Army Museum and then Castle House, Sir Alfred’s former home.

The Museum Director Jenny Hand led us through the exhibition with her detailed knowledge of the paintings and the events they record. Two of the best known of the paintings are of General Seely, commander of the Canadian Cavalry Brigade on his hor