Arctic Experience 
McNaught Gallery 
Newsletter April 2014 
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Robert Harris Part 2
Last week we introduced Robert Harris, famous for his portraits of Canadians and impressionist landscapes. If you missed it, check out the newsletter here.

Some of you had questions about the Fathers of Confederation painting. We did a bit more research and discovered that Harris was asked by the Government to create a second version of the painting that was destroyed, but he felt at his age, with failing eyesight, it was not possible. He did, however, sell the study he had used in the original commission, and that is now the property of the Government. In addition, in the late 1800's someone made a lithograph of the painting. This was not with Harris' agreement and he was not happy at the time, but in subsequent years realized it was good to have a copy.
Robert Harris
Drilling on Fletcher's Field

Last week we gave an introduction on Robert Harris, who was well known for his Canadian portraiture. He also was an accomplished landscape artist. At the gallery, we have a collection of Harris' landscapes, featuring some of the places he lived and worked, including Montreal, the Maritime provinces, Europe and the United States.
 
Harris wrote on one of the paintings (top right): "42d drilling on Fletcher's field 21 April 1915."

We knew this was Montreal's Fletcher's Field because of the iconic George-Etienne Cartier monument to the left of the image.

The Cartier monument was dedicated in 1919, but construction started in 1913, which means Harris' painting probably shows the monument before it was completed.

But what are those tiny figures doing?

Janet found this article from the Montreal Gazette in April of 1913. The article details the local militia's request to run drills in the park as they prepare to go to camp in June. Each night of the week would feature different regiments, accompanied by a marching band. The militia argued that the public would be entertained by the nightly marching and music in the park. They also promised that no mounted drills (i.e. horses) would be in the park so that the grass "would not suffer."
 
 
Here's a watercolour from Montreal's McCord Museum, painted by Ernst Neumann, showing the park and monument as they were in 1938 (above).


Today the park is known as Parc Jeanne-Mance and is still a popular recreation area in the Mont Royal area. It features a kiddie pool, soccer fields, baseball diamonds, and tennis courts.
Robert Harris Gallery
Check out the Robert Harris Gallery on our website. Contact us for more information. See you next week!