What should be done with the Alfred Pellan paintings?

"Canada East", one of two paintings by Alfred Pellan that were removed from the entrance of the Department of Foreign Affairs.(Canadian Press)The government is facing criticism on its plans to sell two paintings by Quebec modern master Alfred Pellan after replacing them with a portrait of the Queen in the main reception area at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Seven months after the paintings, titled "Canada West" and "Canada East," were replaced, they remain in a storage facility and have not been put back on public display.

The debate over what to do with the paintings, valued by the department at $90,000 each, is detailed in a package of documents obtained under Access to Information legislation.

Bureaucrats initially suggested the Queen's portrait and the Pellan paintings could share the same space, but the idea was quickly quashed by the Conversatives.

The Pellan paintings' current limbo in storage generated significant response from the CBC Community. Most were upset at their removal.

• "I am neither French-speaking nor anti-monarchist, but the removal of two wonderful, very Canadian paintings to put up Her Majesty's portrait, albeit a lovely one, was only one of the stupid and thoughtless actions performed, and continuing to be performed, by this government's bureaucrats." - annie1931
• "They took them down for the royal visit? I would suspect the Queen would have preferred to see those Canadian paintings, over yet another picture of herself." - Whirl'd Pease

Others either saw little value in the Pellans, or thought a portrait of the head of state was more appropriate for a government building.

• "Those paintings look like something I did in Grade 2 art class. If the government can find some sucker to buy them for $90,000...take the money and run like hell." - BackBushBilly

What should be done with the "Canada East" and "Canada West" paintings? Should they be returned to the reception area at the Department of Foreign Affairs, or sold to a gallery? Let us know in the comments section below.


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