Volume 1, Number 4, November-December 2005

In Focus

The Berry Portraits

Rear-Admiral Sir John Berry, ca. 1689 Source

After a 330-year absence, Rear-Admiral Sir John Berry, accompanied by his wife, Lady Berry, has returned once again to Newfoundland's shores: their impressive portraits have recently been acquired by the Portrait Gallery of Canada. Painted by Swedish artist Michael Dahl circa 1689, the portraits take their place as the earliest identified oil portraits in Library and Archives Canada holdings.

A pivotal figure in Newfoundland history, Sir John Berry was likely a Newfoundland fisherman for a time in his youth. As a commander in the Royal Navy in 1675, he conducted the earliest surviving systematic census of Newfoundland and Labrador's English shore known as "Berry's List." He then recommended that settlers be allowed to stay on the island, despite plans at the time to have them evicted. He is thus considered one of the "founding fathers" of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Lady Berry, ca. 1689 Source

The acquisition of these two important portraits was made possible with the generous support of the Minister of Canadian Heritage under the terms of the Cultural Property Export and Import Act; the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador; the Estate of the Honourable Fabian O'Dea, former Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador; Craig L. Dobbin, O.C.; Jeanne d'Arc Sharp; and an anonymous donor.

The Berry portraits were unveiled on November 2, 2005, in the presence of His Honour, the Honourable Edward Roberts, Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador; they will be displayed at The Rooms, in St. John's, from November 3, 2005, to January 29, 2006.

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