For the past few years, the centenary of World War I has been observed throughout the world in what has seemed like an endless cortege of ceremonials, monuments and speeches, films and art exhibitions, concerts and recordings. In Australia, few projects have been propagated by the extent of research and depth of dedication as those pursued by Christopher Latham.

Latham’s focus has been on the loss to music of composers and performers killed in all theatres of the Great War. He has helped revive interest in the music of Frederick Septimus Kelly (1881-1916), the Australian composer and pianist who was killed in the last days of the Battle of the Somme in November 1916. More recently, he created the Gallipoli Symphony for the ANZAC centennial, a convocation of music by Australian, New Zealand and Turkish composers. He was recently appointed Artist in Residence at the Australian War Memorial for the next five years. This unprecedented appointment sent ripples of excitement through the institutional family in the national capital.

Latham’s focus this year is on France and the great painter, Claude Monet (1840-1926). Between the start of the Great War and his death 12 years later, Monet created nearly 200 paintings, many...