The Navy: A Century in Art
The Navy at Sea

The Canadian navy is a creature of the sea. Its ships, equipment, tactics, and experiences have been conditioned by the major environments in which it serves. Historically, the most important of these have been Canada's long and ragged coasts and the storm-tossed northern waters connecting Canada to the world.

Rescue-Firing a Coston Gun Line
Painted by Harold Beament around 1944

Beament, an experienced mariner and official war artist, often depicted the perils of naval service.

In this scene, sailors fire a rescue line to two people in a small raft (upper left). Note the angle of the ship's deck and the curve of the rescue line being fired into a heavy wind. Many of Beament's works explore the thin line between life and death at sea. Some, including this one, convey a sense of hope against long odds; others reflect the stark certainty of tragic loss.

Beaverbrook Collection of War Art
CWM 19710261-1044