The Destructive Nazi and Italian Worms at the Roots

MAKER
Arthur George Racey

DATE
1932

DIMENSIONS
13.2 x 10.8 inches

CREDIT LINE
Gift of Mrs. Susan Racey Godber and Mrs. Margaret Racey Stavert, McCord Museum M2005.23.5

A cartoon drawing of a tree labelled “WORLD TREE” with roots shown beneath the ground level. Two large worms are shown winding around the roots of the tree with the words “ITALIAN WORM” and “NAZI WORM.” The drawing was created in 1932 by Arthur George Racey.

View of internment camp in late summer-fall, oil painting by Oscar Bendl

DATE
1940

DIMENSIONS
7 x 5 inches

CREDIT LINE
Private Collection of the Prasifka Family

Oil painting on card stock of the barrack buildings and an internee in late summer/fall at Petawawa Internment Camp. Two barracks or dormitories are visible in the background. An internee with a red circle on the back of his jacket is seen in the right foreground. A flower garden is visible in the left foreground. In the central mid-ground are trees with leaves that are beginning to change colour.

Barracks were wooden, single-storey structures which ranged in size depending on the camp — those at Petawawa contained 60 internees and had toilets, sinks, showers, and electric lighting. Regardless of location, the barracks contained wooden tables and benches, and a wood stove for heating in winter. Internees slept on bunk beds with a thin mattress. Every barrack was assigned a number and was represented by an appointed barrack leader. Internees had to keep their barracks clean. Barracks were inspected daily.

Not much is known about the artist of this work — Oscar Bendl — other than he was presumably a German-Canadian internee who interacted with the Italian Canadians also held at Camp Petawawa. This painting was among the materials owned by internee Giacomo Venzon.

View of internment camp in winter, oil painting by Oscar Bendl

DATE
ca. 1940

DIMENSIONS
7 x 5 inches

CREDIT LINE
Private Collection of the Prasifka Family

Oil painting on card stock of a sunset during winter at Petawawa Internment Camp. Barracks or dormitories are visible in the background. A pile of wood logs are visible at the right.

Barracks were wooden, single-storey structures which ranged in size depending on the camp — those at Petawawa contained 60 internees and had toilets, sinks, showers, and electric lighting. Regardless of location, the barracks contained wooden tables and benches, and a wood stove for heating in winter. Internees slept on bunk beds with a thin mattress. Every barrack was assigned a number and was represented by an appointed barrack leader. Internees had to keep their barracks clean. Barracks were inspected daily.

Not much is known about the artist of this work — Oscar Bendl — other than he was presumably a German-Canadian internee who interacted with the Italian Canadians also held at Camp Petawawa. This painting was among the materials owned by internee Giacomo Venzon.

View of internment camp in late summer-fall, oil painting by Oscar Bendl

DATE
1941

DIMENSIONS
7 x 5 inches

CREDIT LINE
Courtesy of Tony De Marco

Oil painting on card stock of a sunset scene in late summer/fall at Petawawa Internment Camp. Barracks or dormatories are visible in the background. Internees with red dots on the backs of their jackets are seen in the left foreground and botton edge of the painting. On the back of the painting is Christmas wrapping paper.

Barracks were wooden, single-storey structures which ranged in size depending on the camp — those at Petawawa contained 60 internees and had toilets, sinks, showers, and electric lighting. Regardless of location, the barracks contained wooden tables and benches, and a woodstove for heating in winter. Internees slept on bunk beds with a thin mattress. Every barrack was assigned a number and was represented by an appointed barrack leader. Internees had to keep their barracks clean. Barracks were inspected daily.

Not much is known about the artist of this work — Oscar Bendl — other than he was presumably a German-Canadian internee who interacted with the Italian Canadians also held at Camp Petawawa. This painting was among the materials owned by internee Carmine De Marco.

View of internment camp in winter, oil painting by Oscar Bendl

DATE
1942

DIMENSIONS
7 x 5 inches

CREDIT LINE
Courtesy of Tony De Marco

Oil painting on card stock of a scene in winter at Petawawa Internment Camp. Barracks or dormatories are visible in the background. Internees with red dots on the backs of their jackets are seen in the right foreground (on what might be an ice rink) and botton edge of the painting. On the back edge of the painting is Christmas wrapping paper.

Barracks were wooden, single-storey structures which ranged in size depending on the camp — those at Petawawa contained 60 internees and had toilets, sinks, showers, and electric lighting. Regardless of location, the barracks contained wooden tables and benches, and a woodstove for heating in winter. Internees slept on bunk beds with a thin mattress. Every barrack was assigned a number and was represented by an appointed barrack leader. Internees had to keep their barracks clean. Barracks were inspected daily.

Internees were known to pass the time in winter skating and playing hockey.

Not much is known about the artist of this work — Oscar Bendl — other than he was presumably a German-Canadian internee who interacted with the Italian Canadians also held at Camp Petawawa. This painting was among the materials owned by internee Carmine De Marco.

Charcoal sketch of Italian Canadian family

MAKER
Jemma Kim

DATE
January 2012

CREDIT LINE
Columbus Centre Collection

INSCRIPTIONS
Recto: (Signed, bottom right) Jemma Kim, 2012

This is a charcoal sketch of an Italian Canadian family created by Jemma Kim in 2012. It is part of a series of sketches created for use in the Italian Canadian as Enemy Aliens: Memories of WWII permanent exhibit. The family consists of a father, a mother, and a child. The family’s identity is unknown. Their backs are turned and they are walking down a tree-lined pathway which leads to a house in the far background. The blooming trees suggest it is summer.

Charcoal sketch of internment camp with view of guard tower

MAKER
Jemma Kim

DATE
January 2012

CREDIT LINE
Columbus Centre Collection

INSCRIPTIONS
Recto: (Signed, bottom right) Jemma Kim, 2012

This is a charcoal sketch of an internment camp guard tower created by Jemma Kim in 2012. It is part of a series of sketches created for use in the Italian Canadian as Enemy Aliens: Memories of WWII permanent exhibit.

The view is of a large guard tower looming looming over a rural landscape. A barbed wire fence is also in view. The scene is night time and a large beam of light flashes from the guard tower. The barren trees in the right foreground suggests that it is winter or fall season.

During World War II, Italian Canadians were interned at three internment camps. They were located at Petawawa, ON, Kananaskis, AB, and Fredericton, NB. There are many other internment camps in Canada which also housed German Canadians, Ukrainian Canadians, and other POWs both during the First and Second World Wars.

Charcoal sketch of a protest

MAKER
Jemma Kim

DATE
January 2012

CREDIT LINE
Columbus Centre Collection

INSCRIPTIONS
Recto: (Signed, bottom right) Jemma Kim, 2012

Charcoal sketch of a modern day protest created by Jemma Kim in 2012. It is part of a series of sketches created for use in the Italian Canadian as Enemy Aliens: Memories of WWII permanent exhibit.

This is a generic scene of a modern day protest. Details of individuals’ identities, place, location, and time are unknown. The people are holding up protest signage and are lobbying together. In the background is a small cluster of high-rise buildings.

Charcoal sketch of a steamship

MAKER
Jemma Kim

DATE
January 2012

CREDIT LINE
Columbus Centre Collection

INSCRIPTIONS
Recto: (Signed, bottom right) Jemma Kim, 2012

This is a charcoal sketch of a steamship created by Jemma Kim in 2012. It is part of a series of sketches created for use in the Italian Canadian as Enemy Aliens: Memories of WWII permanent exhibit.

The ship is shown coming into port (shown lower left). There are big clouds in the far background. There are no visible passengers on deck.

The creation of the steamship allowed for large numbers of immigrants to cross the Atlantic in faster, sturdier, and larger vessels. Italian immigration to Canada is divided into three phases: 1867-1913 (pre-war); 1945-1961 (post-war); and 1961-present (sponsorship period). During the first two periods, Italian immigrants arrived on steamships landing either at Ellis Isand, New York or at Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Charcoal Sketch of Internment Camp With View of guard tower and internee

MAKER
Jemma Kim

DATE
January 2012

CREDIT LINE
Columbus Centre Collection

INSCRIPTIONS
Recto: (Signed, bottom right) Jemma Kim, 2012

This is a charcoal sketch of an internment camp with view of guard tower and an internee by Jemma Kim in 2012. It is part of a series of sketches created for use in the Italian Canadian as Enemy Aliens: Memories of WWII permanent exhibit.

The view is of the barbed wire fence and guard tower and an unidentified internee. The internee is running beside the barbed wire fence. The barren tree suggests it is winter or fall season.

During World War II, Italian Canadians were interned at three internment camps. They were located at Petawawa, ON, Kananaskis, AB, and Fredericton, NB. There are many other internment camps in Canada which also housed German Canadians, Ukrainian Canadians, and other POWs both during the First and Second World Wars.

Camillien Houde at Petawawa Camp

MAKER
Guido Nincheri

DATE
September 01, 1940

DIMENSIONS
13.2 x 10.8 inches

CREDIT LINE
Archives de la Ville de Montréal (VM6, D026.34-7-035)

INSCRIPTIONS
Recto:
(top centre of mat, handwritten in charcoal) -1940-

(bottom centre of mat, handwritten in charcoal) PETAWAWA

(centre left of sketch, handwritten in charcoal) G. NINCHERI [underlined] / SEPT. MCMXL

Sketch of Camillien Houde created by artist and fellow internee Guido Nincheri while Houde was interned at Camp Petawawa. In 1940 Camillien Houde was serving his second of four terms as mayor of Montreal. When World War II broke out Houde campaigned heavily against conscription. On August 2, 1940 he publicly urged men in Quebec to ignore the National Registration Act. Three days after this public declaration Houde was arrested by the RCMP and charged with sedition. He was sent to the Petawawa Internment Camp and did not recieve a trial. He was then transferred to Camp Fredericton where he stayed until his release on August 18, 1944. It was during his stay at these two World War II internment camps that Houde came into contact with many Italian Canadian internees.

Charcoal Sketch of Osvaldo Giacomelli

MAKER
Guido Casini

DATE
November 11, 1941

DIMENSIONS
13.2 x 10.8 inches

CREDIT LINE
The Giacomelli Family

This charcoal sketch of Osvaldo Giacomelli was created by fellow internee Guido Casini in Petawawa Internment Camp. On the lower right hand corner, we see the artist’s signature followed by “Petawawa II-XI-XIX”. This appears to be the fascist date for November 11, 1941.

Guido Casini was an artist. He was known in the Italian Canadian community of Montreal having worked on the sculpture for Giovanni Caboto (John Cabot) and assisted with the fresco featuring Benito Mussolini in the Madonna della Difesa church. In Petawawa Internment Camp, both he and Guido Nincheri did coal sketches of fellow internees. Vincenzo Poggi completed sketches as well as paintings while in camp.

This photograph belongs to a collection owned by Italian Canadian internee Osvaldo Giacomelli. Previous to his death, he had spoken on the record about his internment to journalists and academics. Some suggestion has been made that Giacomelli was a fascist supporter and Mussolini-adherent. He was one of the longest-serving of the Italian Canadian internees, released on May 29, 1945. Giacomelli himself felt that he was wrongfully interned, and sued the Government of Canada in 2005. When Giacomelli died in March of 2006, his case was still unresolved.

Watercolour by Andy Donato

DATE
May 8, 1945,

CREDIT LINE
Courtesy of Andy Donato

INSCRIPTIONS
Verso: (Hand-written, black ink) 63%

Original colour cartoon illustration in watercolour, ink and pencil by renown cartoonist and artist Andy Donato.

Born in Toronto to Italian-Canadian parents, Andy Donato is a professional artist, known for his cartoon work especially with The Toronto Sun. In the past, he has illustrated for Eaton’s and The Telegram. He is also an accomplished landscape painter.

A young child during World War II, Donato remembers some tension and discrimination in the Italian community. He also knew neighbours and paesani, who were interned. This work speaks to a specific event in his childhood — the classroom announcement by his teacher of the end of the war in Europe. It was published in The Toronto Sun during the 60th anniversary commemoration of the end of World War II.

May 8, 1945

It was the day my uncle Frank and cousin Paul would be free to leave the army.

It was the day my uncle Achille and Mr. Orlando would be free to leave an internment camp in Ontario.

It was the day I would be free to live a rare and wonderful dream.

Donato

Conté Sketch of Frederick Rocco Pantalone

DATE
1940

MAKER
Guido Casini

CREDIT LINE
Courtesy of the Pantalone Family

This conté sketch of Frederick Rocco Pantalone was created by fellow internee Guido Casini in Petawawa Internment Camp. On the lower right hand corner, we see the artist’s signature followed by “Petawawa 17 [unclear] 940”. The 940 is not a PW# for either Casini or Pantalone and may instead be a partial date — 1940.

Guido Casini was an artist. He was known in the Italian Canadian community of Montreal having worked on the sculpture for Giovanni Caboto (John Cabot) and assisted with the fresco featuring Benito Mussolini in the Madonna della Difesa church. In Petawawa Internment Camp, both he and Guido Nincheri did coal sketches of fellow internees. Vincenzo Poggi completed sketches as well as paintings while in camp.

Charcoal Sketch of Ruggero Bacci

DATE
1941

MAKER
Guido Casini

CREDIT LINE
Courtesy of the Bacci Family

This charcoal sketch of Ruggero Bacci was created by a fellow internee. Unfortunately the signature and date are missing. Other similar examples have this information, leading one to assume that this information has been removed from the original sketch or removed from the digital reproduction available to this collection. A digital copy of this image appears in the collection of the Archives of Ontario, and does retain a line on the bottom right corner: “Petawawa 11 VII 1941”. As a result, it would appear to have been created by Guido Casini.

Guido Casini was an artist. He was known in the Italian Canadian community of Montreal for having worked on the sculpture of Giovanni Caboto (John Cabot) and assisted with the fresco featuring Benito Mussolini in the Madonna della Difesa church. In Petawawa Internment Camp, he created many sketches of fellow internees.

Charcoal Sketch of Luigi Pancaro

DATE
August 1940

MAKER
Guido Nincheri

CREDIT LINE
Courtesy of Maggie Pancaro Pallotta

This charcoal sketch of Luigi Pancaro was created by fellow internee Guido Nincheri in Petawawa Internment Camp. On the lower right hand corner, we see the artist’s signature followed by “Agosto MCMXL”. This is the Italian and Roman numeral date for August 1940, and does not follow the Fascist dating system seen in other sketches by the artist Guido Casini (see DICEA2011.0001.0036).

Guido Nincheri has been described as one of the most important religious artists in Canadian history. He certainly was prolific, producing a range of work in many mediums. His fresco featuring Benito Mussolini in the Madonna della Difesa church was likley the primary cause of his internment. In Petawawa Internment Camp, both he and Guido Casini created sketches of fellow internees. Vincenzo Poggi completed sketches as well as paintings while in camp.

Luigi Pancaro was a surgeon. While interned, he worked at the camp hospital, providing medical care to fellow internees and on occassion to camp guards and officials.

Graphite Sketch of Clemente Tonellato

DATE
May 04, 1941

MAKER
Guido Casini

DIMENSIONS
12 x 9.25 inches

CREDIT LINE
Courtesy of Ido Tonellato

This graphite sketch of Clemente Tonellato was created by fellow internee Guido Casini in Petawawa Internment Camp. On the lower right hand corner, we see the artist’s signature. “Petawawa 4-V-1941” also appears at the bottom in the centre, dating the sketch to May 4, 1941. Guido Casini was an artist. He was known in the Italian Canadian community of Montreal having worked on the sculpture for Giovanni Caboto (John Cabot) and assisted with the fresco featuring Benito Mussolini in the Madonna della Difesa church. In Petawawa Internment Camp, both he and Guido Nincheri did coal sketches of fellow internees. Vincenzo Poggi completed sketches as well as paintings while in camp. On a trip to Italy to visit family, Tonellato’s great-nephew Ido located the sketch. Tonellato’s widow had returned to Italy in 1972. The couple was childless. Ido found the sketch, which had been among her possessions.

Colour Sketch of Leopoldo Mascioli

DATE
August 1940

MAKER
Vincent (Vincenzo) Poggi

CREDIT LINE
With the permission of Mascioli Family

This colour sketch of Leopoldo (Leo) Mascioli was created by fellow internee Vincenzo Poggi in Petawawa Internment Camp. The lower left hand of the drawing features a note to Mascioli as follows, “all. Eg. Leo Mascioli, con stima.” It is followed by the artist’s signature and the date the sketch was created, August 1940.

Leo Mascioli traveled to the United States at the age of 10. He was accompanied by a distant relative and landed in Boston where he worked as a shoeshine and a newsboy before finding employment in local restaurants. At the age of 19, Mascioli overheard an employment agent extolling the opportunities and adventures one could have in Canada. He traveled to Canada where he took a six-month contract working for a steel company in Sydney, NS. Leo soon took to working at various mines and slowly making his way to Timmins, ON. In 1911, he opened a general store in that town. A few years later Leo began building hotels and movie theatres in various towns in northern Ontario. On 10 June 1940, Leo Mascioli and his brother Antonio were arrested by the RCMP and accused of involvement in fascist organizations in both Timmins and Italy. Mascioli was 64 years old at the time and had been a citizen (a naturalized British subject) since 1921.

Vincenzo Poggi was an artist. In 1929, Poggi arrived in Montreal for a six-month contract to work for Guido Nincheri’s (also interned) stained glass studio in Montreal. At the end of his contract, Poggi decided to stay in Canada. He continued to work for Nincheri until 1940, when he was interned. Poggi began his artistic career as a portrait painter, but he found it nerve-racking to paint while trying to maintain a conversation with the sitter. He eventually switched to stained glass windows. Poggi created a number of paintings and sketches of fellow internees and of the camp while he was interned, many of which are now housed at the Canadian War Museum. He also taught his fellow internees to paint during his internment. Fellow internees and artists Guido Nincheri and Guido Casini did charcoal sketches of fellow internees while interned at Camp Petawawa.

Graphite Sketch of Gino Tiezzi

DATE
October 12, 1940

MAKER
Guido Casini

CREDIT LINE
Courtesy of Italo Tiezzi

This graphite sketch of Gino Tiezzi was created by fellow internee Guido Casini in Petawawa Internment Camp. At the right hand side, over Tiezzi’s shoulder, we see the artist’s signature. “Petawawa 12-X-1940” also appears at the bottom right, dating the sketch to October 12, 1940.

Guido Casini was an artist. He was known in the Italian Canadian community of Montreal having worked on the sculpture for Giovanni Caboto (John Cabot) and assisted with the fresco featuring Benito Mussolini in the Madonna della Difesa church. In Petawawa Internment Camp, both he and Guido Nincheri did coal sketches of fellow internees. Vincenzo Poggi completed sketches as well as paintings while in camp.

Graphite Sketch of Norman Ade Clark

DATE
1942

MAKER
Vincent (Vincenzo) Poggi

CREDIT LINE
Courtesy of the family of Vincent Poggi

Graphite sketch of Norman Ade Clark by internee Vincezo Poggi. Poggi’s signature is visible in the lower right corner. Clark was an Englishman who was interned at Camp Fredericton along with a number of German and Italian merchant marines and German Canadians. Italian Canadian internees were transferred from Petawawa to Fredericton in July 1942. According to an account written by Vincenzo Poggi regarding an incident that occurred in the camp, Poggi began to teach Clark the art of painting in April of 1942. He was soon targeted by a group of Italian Canadian internees who accused him of working with a Mounted Police spy and an English spy. Poggi continued to work with Clark and referred to his relations with Clark as being “purely of a professional nature.” However, due to a number of altercations with internee Nello Trasciatti and his group Poggi was compelled to stop giving lessons to Clark in order to “keep the peace” and protect himself.

Charcoal Sketch of Two Boxers

DATE
1940

MAKER
Vincent (Vincenzo) Poggi

CREDIT LINE
Courtesy of the family of Vincent Poggi

Charcoal sketch of two men boxing by internee Vincenzo Poggi. Internees engaged in a variety of recreational activities in their free time. Hockey, soccer, bocce, ping pong and boxing were popular sports. Internees also played cards, Chinese checkers and chess, and they made wood carvings and painted. The men formed musical bands and gave concerts for fellow internees. A few of the Italian Canadian men who were interned were also artists, many of whom drew, sketched and painted while they were in the camp. In Petawawa Internment Camp, Guido Nincheri and Guido Casini created sketches of fellow internees. Vincenzo Poggi, who was interned at both Camp Petawawa and Camp Fredericton, completed sketches of fellow internees as well as paintings and drawings while in camp.

Graphite Sketch of Nicola Germano

DATE
March 03, 1941

MAKER
Guido Casini

CREDIT LINE
Private collection of Joyce Pillarella

This graphite sketch of Nicola Germano was created by fellow internee Guido Casini in Petawawa Internment Camp. On the lower right hand corner, we see the artist’s signature. “Petawawa 3-III-1941” also appears at the bottom, dating the sketch to March 3, 1941. The reverse of the drawing has an imprint of another sketch.

Guido Casini was an artist. He was known in the Italian Canadian community of Montreal having worked on the sculpture for Giovanni Caboto (John Cabot) and assisted with the fresco featuring Benito Mussolini in the Madonna della Difesa church. In Petawawa Internment Camp, both he and Guido Nincheri did coal sketches of fellow internees. Vincenzo Poggi completed sketches as well as paintings while in camp.

Graphite Sketch of Wife of Internee Nicola Germano

DATE
December 30, 1942

MAKER
Guido Casini

CREDIT LINE
Private collection of Joyce Pillarella

This graphite sketch of the wife of Nicola Germano was created by fellow internee Guido Casini. On the lower right hand corner, we see the artist’s signature. “30 Dec, 1942” also appears at the bottom, dating the sketch and placing the location of its creation to Fredericton Internment Camp, where the remaining Italian internees were transferred in July 1942. Casini likely created this sketch based on a photograph provided by Germano. During Germano’s internment, his wife who resided in Italy, became ill and died.

Guido Casini was an artist. He was known in the Italian Canadian community of Montreal having worked on the sculpture for Giovanni Caboto (John Cabot) and assisted with the fresco featuring Benito Mussolini in the Madonna della Difesa church. In Petawawa Internment Camp, both he and Guido Nincheri did coal sketches of fellow internees. Vincenzo Poggi completed sketches as well as paintings while in camp.

Charcoal Sketch of Nicola Zaza

DATE
August 21, 1940

MAKER
Guido Casini

CREDIT LINE
Courtesy of the family of Nicola Zaza

Charcoal sketch of Italian Canadian internee Nicola Zaza, created by fellow internee Guido Casini in Petawawa Internment Camp. The artist’s signature is visible in the lower right hand corner of the sketch. “Petawawa 21-VIII” also appears at the bottom right, dating the sketch to August 21. It is likely that the sketch was created in the summer of 1940, after Zaza was first interned, as he was released by the following summer.

Guido Casini was an artist. He was known in the Italian Canadian community of Montreal having worked on the sculpture for Giovanni Caboto (John Cabot) and assisted with the fresco featuring Benito Mussolini in the Madonna della Difesa church. In Petawawa Internment Camp, both he and Guido Nincheri did coal sketches of fellow internees. Vincenzo Poggi completed sketches as well as paintings while in camp.

Colour Sketch of Ettore Sanguiro

DATE
August 1940

MAKER
Vincent (Vincenzo) Poggi

CREDIT LINE
Courtesy of the Sanguiro and Romanelli families

This colour sketch of Ettore Sanguiro was created by fellow internee Vincenzo Poggi in Petawawa Internment Camp. The lower right hand of the drawing features the artist’s signature followed by the personal note, “al caro E. Sanguiro, August 1940.”

Ettore Sanguiro was born on March 25, 1891. In 1923, Sanguiro came to Canada and seven years later, his wife, Luisa, followed with their eight-year-old daughter, Cesarina. Their second child, Rosemarie, was born in 1933. The family residence lived at 557 Cannon Street East in Hamilton. Sanguiro was arrested on June 10, 1940. It was horrifying for the family, but especially for Rosemarie who was only seven at the time. She remembers how three Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers disrupted the family dinner by kicking in the front, side, and back doors to their humble home. After his brief detention in Toronto, Sanguiro was sent to Petawawa Internment Camp; his family did not see him again until his release in 1942.

Vincenzo Poggi was an artist. In 1929, Poggi arrived in Montreal for a six-month contract to work for Guido Nincheri’s (also interned) stained glass studio in Montreal. At the end of his contract, Poggi decided to stay in Canada. He continued to work for Nincheri until 1940, when he was interned. Poggi began his artistic career as a portrait painter, but he found it nerve-racking to paint while trying to maintain a conversation with the sitter. He eventually switched to stained glass windows. Poggi created a number of paintings and sketches of fellow internees and of the camp while he was interned, many of which are now housed at the Canadian War Museum. He also taught his fellow internees to paint during his internment. Fellow internees and artists Guido Nincheri and Guido Casini did charcoal sketches of fellow internees while interned at Camp Petawawa.

Fresco in the Church of the Madonna della Difesa

DATE
2012

MAKER
Sophie Asselin

CREDIT LINE
Columbus Centre Collection

Fresco by Italian Canadian artist Guido Nincheri in the apse of the Church of the Madonna della Difesa in Montreal, QC.

The church is located in Montreal’s Little Italy and was built by Italian immigrants to Montreal in the early 1900s. It commemorates the apparition of the Madonna in La Difesa, in Casacalenda, Molise, Italy. The church was designed by Roch Montbriant and is Romanesque in style. The interior of the church was decorated by Guido Nincheri. It was consecrated in 1919.

The fresco in the apse of the church features Benito Mussolini on horseback and commemorates his signing of the Latern Treaty in 1929, which made the Vatican a sovereign state and enshrined Catholicism as Italy’s state religion. The fresco was painted by Nincheri, with assistance from other artists such as Guido Casini, in the early 1930s, with the grand unveiling taking place on September 24, 1933.

Once Italy declared war on the Allies, Nincheri’s fresco became politically suspect and he was arrested and interned. Guido Casini was also interned. The fresco was covered with a tarp for the duration of the war. Following Nincheri’s arrest, his wife Giulia tried to convince Canadian authorities that the church’s curate, Father Manfriani, forced Nincheri to include Mussolini in the fresco. According to Giulia, Nincheri would have risked losing the contract if he had not complied. She even provided original sketches of the fresco that did not include the dictator.

Nincheri was released from Camp Petawawa on October 22, 1940. After his release he continued to work on religious art and created more than one hundred frescoes and stained glass during his career. Guido Nincheri has been described as one of the most important religious artists in Canadian history.

Illustration from Le Montreal de Mon Enfance, Antonio De Thomasis

DATE
October 1994

MAKER
Antonio De Thomasis

CREDIT LINE
Antonio De Thomasis / Courtesy of Domenic Trivisonno

Page from the book Le Montreal de Mon Enfance (“The Montreal of my childhood”) by author/illustrator Antonio De Thomasis. The illustration depicts a street scene in Montreal. The horse and green wagon from Corona Bakery is in the mid-ground. Vincenzo Monaco sits in the wagon while his young son Michael hops the curb to deliver a bread basket. Vincenzo Monaco arrived in Canada in 1923 and became a citizen (a naturalized British subject) in 1931. He worked at the Margherita Bakery on Clark St. in Montreal and after his only son, Michael, was born, the family moved to Bordeaux St. in 1932. Monaco worked in construction for a period and then he started a family business, the Corona Bakery, with his brothers Donato Monaco and Antonio Monaco. Monaco was arrested on June 10, 1940, while delivering bread with his horse and buggy. Monaco was 40 years old and had five children when he was interned. His internment lasted just over six months. According to his son, Monaco viewed his time away as a vacation from work, since he had never been able to take time off. However, his internment was more difficult on the family and they nearly lost the bakery business.

Charcoal Sketch of Lorenzo Venditti

DATE
1941

MAKER
Guido Casini

CREDIT LINE
Courtesy of Richard Sanchini, grandson

INSCRIPTIONS
Recto: Bottom: GCasini / Petawawa 30-[illegible]-1941

Charcoal sketch of Lorenzo Venditti created by fellow internee Guido Casini at Petawawa Internment Camp. 1941.

Guido Casini was an artist. He was known in the Italian Canadian community of Montreal having worked on the sculpture for Giovanni Caboto (John Cabot) and assisted with the fresco featuring Benito Mussolini in the Madonna della Difesa church. At Petawawa, both he and Guido Nincheri did sketches of fellow internees. Another internee, Vincenzo Poggi completed sketches as well as paintings while in camp.

Lorenzo Venditti and his brother Cosimo Venditti were both interned during World War II.

Painting of Camp Petawawa on Wood

DATE
1941

MAKER
Oscar Bendl

CREDIT LINE
Courtesy of Richard Sanchini, grandson

This is a painting of Camp Petawawa on a slab of wood by Oscar Bendl, 1941.

The wooden slab is oval in shape. The scene is of Camp Petawawa during the fall. The internee depicted at the bottom has POW number 933 in the dark red circle of his uniform. This is Lorenzo Venditti who was interned at Petawawa for about two years.

The painting was likely made as a gift for Lorenzo by fellow internee, German Oscar Bendl. Oscar painted other items such as those given to the Prasifka family (related to internee Giacomo Venzon) and the De Marco family (related to internee Carmine De Marco).