"Spring - The Dance Through the Centuries" Mural by Napier Waller - Myer Emporium Mural Hall, Bourke Street, Melbourne

            In 1931 Sidney Myer (1878 – 1934) Russian émigré turned Melbourne businessman and philanthropist decided to reinvigorate his store the Myer Emporium by redeveloping his flagship Bourke Street store at 314-336 Bourke Street. Part of this included a new façade in the prevailing interwar style of the time – Art Deco and the addition of several more floors to what was already a very large department store. On the sixth floor a chic European style ballroom with soaring ceilings, sweeping stairs and parquet flooring was planned for use by the emporium’s patrons as a dining room by day and in which Myer could host Parisian fashion shows and hold exclusive Melbourne society events by night.  The Myer Mural Hall, so called because of an impressive collection of ten murals by Australian artist Napier Waller, was the realisation of Sidney Myer’s dream.

The Mural Hall, a dining hall suitable for a sitting for one thousand people and a venue for fashion parades and performances, was completed in 1933 as part of the sixth floor which was set aside for dining. It is a large rectangular space with a decorative plaster ceiling and balconies and wall panels in a Streamline Moderne style. However, it is the decoration of ten murals by renowned artist Napier Waller (1893-1972) that are the Mural Hall’s claim to fame.  The murals took a little over a year to complete and were painted at Napier Waller’s home at Fairy Hills in Ivanhoe before being transported to the department store where they were hung.  Completed in 1934, just after Sidney Myer’s death, eight of the murals are almost floor to ceiling, whilst the remaining two are located over the two side entrances.  All pay homage to the seasons and to women and their achievements through history in the areas of art, opera, literature, dance, sport and fashion.  

The western wall features a mural "Spring - The Dance Through the Centuries".  It features: a statue of a dancing faun, a “shepherd’s gambol”; an early English dance; a “Ring Dance” of the 15th Century; a minuet; a “Morris Dance”; Anna Pavlova (1855 – 1931) performing “Swan Lake”; Waslov Nijinski (1890 – 1950) performing in “L’apres-midi d’un faune” and his dancing partner Matilde Karsavina (1885 – 1978).  Sergei Pavlovich Diaghilev’s Ballet Russes often toured Australia before and after the Second World War, and were a great influence on Melbourne’s society, both socially and artistically.  This is Napier Waller’s tribute to them.      

Napier Waller (1893 – 1972) was a noted Australian muralist, mosaicist and painter.  He served in France from 1916, being so seriously wounded at Bullecourt that he lost his right arm. He was right-handed but learned to use his left hand while recuperating. Back in Australia, he established his reputation by exhibiting more paintings.  He is perhaps best known for the mosaics and stained glass for the Hall of Memory at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, completed in 1958. However, Melbourne has been described as "a gallery of Napier Waller’s work".  Pieces of Napier Waller’s works may be found in the Melbourne Town Hall (1927), the State Library of Victoria (1928), the T & G Life Building (1929), Newspaper House (1933), Florentino’s Restaurant (1934), the Wesley Church (1935) and the University of Melbourne (1940) as well as the Myer Mural Hall.

Taken on: July 31, 2011

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Sets appears in: • Moderne Melbourne 1915 - 21st Century • Myer Emporium Mural Hall more » • The Art of Napier Waller « less

Groups appears in: • Deco • Art-Deco more » • Architectural Interiors • History is All Around Us • Historic Australia 1901-1945 • Shopulence • Art Deco that SHOULD be famous worldwide • Historical Buildings and Landmarks (No Limits) • Art Deco Melbourne • They Dont Make Them Like They Used To • 1934 • Myer Department Store • Department Store Photos • Art Deco: Interiors Only • City of Melbourne • 2011 Focus Melbourne Open House Competition « less

Camera: Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, f/2.8, 1/80 sec, 6.2mm, ISO 80 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS
Aperture:	f/2.8
Exposure Time:	0.013 sec (1/80)
Focal Length:	6.2mm
ISO:	80
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Auto, Did not fire
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
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