MICHELLE ZUCCOLO
Duty and respect
Oil on canvas
90 x 64cm
Whilst travelling through Western Victoria I had the opportunity to visit the impressive Soldiers’ Memorial on Cannon Hill in Warrnambool, dedicated to the memory of local and district soldiers who died in service or were killed in action during World War One. The words “Sacrifice, Courage, Fortitude, Victory” are engraved in the granite monument encasing a statue of a soldier carved from Italian marble.
On the pinnacle of the twelve-metre-high monument rests a beautiful marble angel known as of Peace. I felt compelled to recreate part of the memorial in my artwork selecting the soldier and his rifle – his back to the ocean shielding country and people. The soldiers’ expression is stern, sad, yet gracious. The coastline becomes a motif for our country and the freedom we can enjoy and appreciate because of sacrifices made by our fore-bearers during previous wars.
