Bulletin 12 (VI:2), 1968

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Robert Harris and The Fathers of Confederation

by Moncrieff Williamson

Pages  1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5  |  6  

In the final composition (fig. 2), Delegates (twelve of them standing) are shown listening while Tupper and Macdonald express their views on Confederation. But they are represented as a group of "elderly and somewhat dignified gentlemen, giving a rather sober attention to the matters at hand; in reality they were, at the time of the conference, young and energetic men who lent a large amount of vim and vigour to the Confederation discussions and to the many social functions that accompanied them. Only two were over sixty, eleven were in their fifties and the majority were still in their thirties and forties. The picture, therefore, does not represent its subjects as they were in 1864, and Mr. Harris realized this." (26)

Robert Harris was heartbroken at the destruction of his painting. In June 1916, Sir Joseph Pope wrote to him saying, "I should like to have a few minutes conversation with you on the Confederation Picture. I have to be in Montreal on Thursday next the 29th.

..." (27) The purpose of Pope's visit was to ask Harris to repaint the original canvas. There would appear to have been further visits, but by October it was obvious that Harris had neither the health nor the inclination for the undertaking. The Government was in fact asking a sixty-seven-year-old, partially blind, semi-invalid artist to repaint from memory a masterpiece he had created thirty-three years earlier. Harris was nothing if not conscientious, and there exists, in the study collection at Charlottetown, evidence that he made abortive attempts to comply with Pope's request.

In the end, however, he persuaded the Government to purchase the original cartoon (fig. 6). In this connection it is worth quoting in full his letter of 24 October 1916 to Sir Joseph Pope:

My dear Pope,

It is several days now since our conversation, when you left with the understanding that I would write you to say I could undertake to paint again my burnt picture 'The Fathers of Confederation' if the Govt. so desired. My wish I'm afraid was father to the thought however. On mature reflexion it would certain/y be a mistake for me to undertake to do so. I have spent many anxious hours in arriving at this decided resolve for the destruction of the picture was a blow to me. It would be for me now a large piece of work making such a demand on energy and time for a long period as would virtually cut me off entirely from other work. I should never be content short of producing a better work than the last one and I see too many difficulties and worries ahead in doing this. Difficulties which I cannot stand as I did long ago when difficulties of any kind were only pleasing things to overcome and incessant work was possible.

If there was no record of the picture but photos and prints one might feel constrained at the risk of injury to one's health to attempt it but as you said the large preparatory drawing fortunately is preserved and as you saw is sound and practically intact. This I made before beginning the actual painting on the canvas the figures the same size. It is in some ways more closely related to the men represented if my sketches of them were transferred to it directly. Only in one or two cases was variation made in the painting and as I sometimes thought not with advantage. Only slight accidents which could be easily repaired have happened to one or two of the minor heads as I pointed out to you.

It seems to me that the Government would do well to purchase this drawing. It could be properly mounted, varnished and framed and would then be thoroughly permanent. As a matter of fact similar preparatory drawings or cartoons of the Italian school made for paintings several hundred years since are still as good as ever. As I told you the drawing has not been unrolled for 33 years. After the painting was burnt realizing how valuable it had become I had it carefully glued down on canvas for preservation otherwise it is untouched.

If the Government thought well of acquiring the drawing it could be ready for the Jubilee year. It is now the most interesting record of those of the public men of past history who met at the Quebec Conference to lay the foundation of the Dominion of Canada.

I am sure you will understand that after much apparent willingness to agree to the idea of repainting the picture none but serious and not removable reasons make me decide otherwise. Your kindness for an old friend I'm sure will not leave me with vacillation.

With kind regards,
Yours very truly
Robert Harris. (28)

Five weeks later, Sir Edmond Walker wrote informing Harris that "Sir Robert Borden has advised me as Chairman of the Advisory Arts Council to take the steps necessary to secure from you the original sketch of the painting." (29)

Robert Harris replied saying that "The price arranged at our interview was as you say $2,000. It is a wise purchase. I know the price is very moderate. It is a satisfaction to know that it will be taken care of now. I feel sure in the future it will be valued." (30)

After this, the matter was in the hands of Eric Brown, Director of the National Gallery of Canada. An exchange of correspondence between him and Harris resulted in the shipment of the cartoon to Ottawa. In the accompanying letter Harris made it clear that the cartoon was not to be copied:

Dear Mr. Brown,

The cartoon of 'The Fathers of Confederation' is packed and goes by express directed as you advised me to the National Gallery, Ottawa. The roll should be drawn carefully out when the top is taken off. As rolling and unrolling must be avoided as much as possible I would suggest that till it is necessary to take it out for measurement for the glass and frame it should not be unrolled: you will judge of that however. Roughly speaking the paper is about 12 feet by 4 ft 4 in or so.

I need not tell you that it requires very careful handling and must not be rubbed. Scotts had great difficulty getting the paper to lie flat on the cloth and only succeeded in doing it at the cost of some creases, which however did not interfere with anything material.

Of course you know my parting with the cartoon was on the express understanding that it was not to be copied. Will you kindly let me hear of ifs safe arrival.

With kind regards,
Yours sincerely,
Robert Harris. (31)

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