Murals
The Spirit of the Printed Word
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The old Reading Room - used since 1990 for committee
meetings and receptions - received an elaborate
classical treatment recalling the dignity and
stateliness of the English Palladian style. Architect
John A. Pearson paid a great deal of attention to the
Reading Room's interior finishing, hiring the famous
mural painter, Arthur Crisp, to produce seventeen
canvases for the new room. This choice of decoration
reflected the great interest in mural art in Canada
after 1900.
When the panels were installed, critics described them
as fine specimens of mural art, typical of Crisp's bold
and colourful style. Toronto Saturday Night
published photographic reproductions of the paintings,
and commented on their artistic qualities and sublime
effect on the room's interior decoration.
The most prominent murals are located on the south and
north walls. Their appropriate themes, warm colours and
imposing compositions play a key role in creating the
atmosphere of the room. Two panels, centred on the south
and north walls, celebrate the art of printing. Four
other sizeable paintings, located at the corners of the
south and north walls, portray the regional economic
development of Canada in the 1920s.
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