Bertram MacKennal's War - Bellona: The Roman Goddess of War

One of Canberra's best-loved icons, Sir Bertram Mackennal's War or ‘Bellona', as it's better known, was relocated to the Sculpture Garden in August 1999. The sculpture, portraying Bellona: Roman goddess of war and made in 1906, is located near the Lone Pine tree.

War is a tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of the ANZACs at Gallipoli during the First World War. When Sir Bertram Mackennal learnt of this bravery, he presented the sculpture to the Commonwealth Government in 1915. He said:

"In common with all Australians, I have been so moved and proud of the gallantry, extreme courage, and fortitude of our troops at ANZAC. No men have ever made greater sacrifices for honour and duty. I wonder if the Commonwealth Government would accept from me as a small tribute of admiration and pride in my fellow-countrymen, a colossal bronze bust entitled War."

The Government did accept the work in the early 1920s but, at that time, had no permanent home for it – the Australian War Memorial didn't open in Canberra until 1941.

In the interim, War was exhibited at Parliament House in Melbourne until 1927. After that, it was displayed until 1954 on Commonwealth Avenue in Canberra (near Albert Hall). The sculpture had a short stint in the foyer of the administrative building near Parliament House, and later in the grounds of Government House until 1977.

Although the Australian Government always intended to display War at the Australian War Memorial, this was delayed in reaction to the conservative social and political climate of the 50s and anti-war sentiment of the 60s.

However, War eventually did go on display in the grounds of the Australian War Memorial in 1981 but again moved in 1993 to outside Albert Hall until late 1998. This was to prepare for the sculpture's permanent display in the Memorial's Sculpture Garden, which was still being designed in the mid 90s.

The new Sculpture Garden officially opened in March 1999. Other sculpture in the Garden includes Paul Montford's Patriotism, Wallace Anderson's Australian soldier, Dennis Adam's Survivors, and memorials to the British Commonwealth Occupational Forces (BCOF) and Australian Defence Force servicewomen.

Betram Mackennal was born in Australia in 1863. He lived and worked in France from 1884-86 and again from 1891-93, at which time he met and became greatly influenced by the renowned sculptor Auguste Rodin. Rodin himself made a Bellona in 1879 and it is likely that Mackennal's War is inspired by it.

Mackennal gained fame in Europe at the turn of the century. He completed several commissions for the Royal family, including a memorial to Edward VII. He was elected an associate member of the Royal Academy in 1909.

War was displayed for the first time at the Royal Academy in 1906.