News
Molson portrait rediscovered
2009-07-20
No doubt you know that the Molson family recently purchased the Montreal Canadiens hockey team. But did you know that we have our very own Molson-related news?
It all began a few months ago, when Head of Communications, Stéphanie Lassonde, was on the hunt for something to brighten her office walls. She knew she had struck gold when she discovered a portrait of a distinguished-looking gentleman, tucked away in a corner of the Institute.
She picked him up and hung him in her office. The next day, one of her consultants, an avid art lover, walked into her office."Who is that fellow?" he asked, "And what is his Douglas connection?"
Intrigued, the two of them decided to track down the identity of the mystery man and the artist who had painted him. Their main clue was the artist's name: Robert Harris.
A few quick e-mails to Concordia University Department of Art History professor Brian Foss and the McCord Museum's Curator of Decorative Arts, Conrad Graham, and they had their answer. Not only was this painting an important part of Douglas history, it was painted by one of Canada's greatest portrait artists.
A bit of history
First, to the gentleman: the portrait is of none other than John Henry Robinson Molson (1826–1897), the grandson of John Molson, who started the Molson's brewing business in the 1780s.
John H. R. Molson's contributions to his beloved Montréal are the stuff of legend. In fact, he gave so freely of his time and money to McGill University, he was offered the position of Chancellor (which he modestly declined).
To the Verdun Protestant Hospital for the Insane (the original name of our Institute), he was also amazingly generous. In addition to being a founding father of the hospital, he gave many gifts, including funds at the turn of the twentieth century to erect a pavilion and gymnasium. For the patients at the time, whose primary treatment was activity and fresh air, these buildings were a godsend. Unfortunately, they are no longer standing today.
Now, to the artist: Robert Harris, one of Canada's acclaimed portrait painters, is best-known for his 1883 painting of the Fathers of Confederation—a Canadian classic.
He painted the John H. R. Molson portrait in 1907—probably from a photograph, since John H. R. Molson died in 1897. Harris was paid $400 for his efforts—a tidy sum at the time.
As facts pour in about the portrait, Stéphanie's curiosity continues to grow, "It makes me wonder, "How many Douglas employees have admired this work over the last century? How many people have hung it in their offices and corridors over the years, just like I did? One thing is clear: John Henry Robinson Molson would be proud to see how far we've taken the Douglas in the past century. When we look at Mr. Molson, we are reminded of our roots. That alone makes it a priceless piece of Douglas history. I hope to see it displayed at the Douglas in the coming months, for all to enjoy."
Nancy Schmidt
It all began a few months ago, when Head of Communications, Stéphanie Lassonde, was on the hunt for something to brighten her office walls. She knew she had struck gold when she discovered a portrait of a distinguished-looking gentleman, tucked away in a corner of the Institute.
She picked him up and hung him in her office. The next day, one of her consultants, an avid art lover, walked into her office."Who is that fellow?" he asked, "And what is his Douglas connection?"
Intrigued, the two of them decided to track down the identity of the mystery man and the artist who had painted him. Their main clue was the artist's name: Robert Harris.
A few quick e-mails to Concordia University Department of Art History professor Brian Foss and the McCord Museum's Curator of Decorative Arts, Conrad Graham, and they had their answer. Not only was this painting an important part of Douglas history, it was painted by one of Canada's greatest portrait artists.
A bit of history
First, to the gentleman: the portrait is of none other than John Henry Robinson Molson (1826–1897), the grandson of John Molson, who started the Molson's brewing business in the 1780s.
John H. R. Molson's contributions to his beloved Montréal are the stuff of legend. In fact, he gave so freely of his time and money to McGill University, he was offered the position of Chancellor (which he modestly declined).
To the Verdun Protestant Hospital for the Insane (the original name of our Institute), he was also amazingly generous. In addition to being a founding father of the hospital, he gave many gifts, including funds at the turn of the twentieth century to erect a pavilion and gymnasium. For the patients at the time, whose primary treatment was activity and fresh air, these buildings were a godsend. Unfortunately, they are no longer standing today.
Now, to the artist: Robert Harris, one of Canada's acclaimed portrait painters, is best-known for his 1883 painting of the Fathers of Confederation—a Canadian classic.
He painted the John H. R. Molson portrait in 1907—probably from a photograph, since John H. R. Molson died in 1897. Harris was paid $400 for his efforts—a tidy sum at the time.
As facts pour in about the portrait, Stéphanie's curiosity continues to grow, "It makes me wonder, "How many Douglas employees have admired this work over the last century? How many people have hung it in their offices and corridors over the years, just like I did? One thing is clear: John Henry Robinson Molson would be proud to see how far we've taken the Douglas in the past century. When we look at Mr. Molson, we are reminded of our roots. That alone makes it a priceless piece of Douglas history. I hope to see it displayed at the Douglas in the coming months, for all to enjoy."
Nancy Schmidt
