Length: 44cm x Width: 39.5cm x Height: 1.5cm
This is a piece of marquetry artwork depicting a sailboat in front of Kingston City Hall. It is made of different coloured pieces of wood arranged into a townscape of a sail boat with an arc on the sail. There are three banners that have words in them, that read "Kingston // 1976 Olympic // Sailing events" in stained wooden letters above city hall. The edges of the artwork are varnished but the middle part is not. There is a metal plaque attached to the bottom that reads "THIS WOODEN PICTURE WAS DESIGNED AND CRAFTED BY // FRANCIS SZILADI TO COMMEMORATE THE 1976 SAILING OLYMPICS. // IN HIS MEMORY HIS FAMILY DONATED THIS PICTURE TO // MAYOR HELEN COOPER AND THE CITY OF KINGSTON APRIL 27, 1993 // FRANCIS SZILADI (1917-1990) BROUGHT HIS WIFE GIZELLA // SON KAROLY AND DAUGHTER GIZELLA FROM HUNGARY // TO KINGSTON IN 1957. HE ENJOYED A PRODUCTIVE LIFE // RAISING HIS FAMILY AND PURSUING HIS HOBBY OF // CREATING FINE ARTWORKS FROM WOODS AND METALS." The reverse side has the maker's signature in black that reads, "FRANCIS SZILADI // KINGSTON. ONT. // (signature)". There is hanging hardware on the reverse side. Some of the joinery is visible at the reverse side.
This piece was crafted by Francis Sziladi in Kingston, ON, to commemorate the 1976 Olympic sailing events held at Portsmouth Olympic Harbour in Kingston. The 1976 Olympic Games were hosted in Montreal, but certain events were held in other locations; Kingston was chosen to host the sailing events, which ran from July 19th to 27th, 1976.
The artist has depicted a sailboat, referencing the Olympic sailing events, in front of Kingston’s City Hall, a key landmark of the city and centre of municipal government and civic life since its completion in 1844.
Francis Sziladi (1917-1990) moved from Hungary to Kingston, Ontario, in 1957 along with his wife Gizella, son Karoly, and daughter Gizella. One of his hobbies was crafting fine artworks out of wood and metal.
This piece was donated in memoriam by the artist’s family to Mayor Helen Cooper and the City of Kingston on April 27, 1993.
