Name/Title
Gentlemen, another bloomin’ colonial. CartoonEntry/Object ID
2001.03.01Description
Drawing
This humourous cartoon shows a gathering of seated elderly mustachioed gentlemen in formal dress at the "VICTORIA UNION CLUB". The one man standing with a newspaper is commenting ("...GENTLEMEN, ANOTHER BLOOMIN COLONIAL IS ON THE WAY") on the headline (W. ARMSTRONG MOVES TO VICTORIA). The specific issue or context is not known. The man to the left smoking a pipe is depicted with an impressive bulbous red nose.
Founded in 1879, The Union Club of British Columbia is a landmark institution in the heart of downtown Victoria., B.C., considered the foremost business, social and cultural club in the city. It is now located in its third venue on Gordon Street at Humboldt. In 2017, the building was declared a National Historic Site by the Government of Canada.Artwork Details
Medium
Graphite and crayon on paperSubject Place
Region
Pacific NorthwestContinent
North AmericaContext
As noted above, the context of this cartoon is unknown and it is also not known where, when or if this cartoon was published. The drawing echoes the content and style of some of the political cartoons done by Leonard (Len) Matheson Norris, OBE, RCA (1913-1997) for the Vancouver Sun newspaper. In the Norris cartoons, crowded gatherings of elderly gentlemen members in formal dress are shown seated in a wood-paneled reading lounge at the "VICTORIA CONSERVATIVE CLUB" [Union Club of B.C.] commenting on issues of the day. The members, mostly dozing in large upholstered armchairs, are depicted as wealthy look-alike men with substantial walrus moustaches similar to those shown in this image. Other details are also the same or similar, such as the fireplace design, the pipe, the drink and the cannon balls on the mantle and the bowler hat hanging on the decorative stand. The cannon balls are now on the Club's McGregor Lounge fireplace mantle.
See 2001.01.09 and 2001.01.10 and Web Links below.Made/Created
Artist Information
Artist
Syd McMullanRole
ArtistDate made
1961Time Period
20th CenturyNotes
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Further research is needed.Inscription/Signature/Marks
Type
InscriptionLocation
In drawing -
Upper left: Framed sign - VICTORIA UNION CLUB
Centre: Newspaper headline - W. ARMSTRONG MOVES TO VICTORIA
Lower centre, speaker text: "...GENTLEMEN, ANOTHER BLOOMIN COLONIAL IS ON THE WAY"Dimensions
Dimension Description
Visible imageHeight
31.8 cmWidth
38.1 cmAcquisition
Acquisition Method
Legacy collection - detail unknownRelationships
Related Entries
Notes
By Len Norris RCA:
2001.02.09 Political cartoon “To quell widespread fears of our being the hub of similar militant ambitions…”
2001.02.10 Political cartoon “..on second thought, Fotheringay’s suggestion that it's a jolly good idea if we also embarrass...”