Object Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
BE979.6.102 |
Object Name |
Painting |
Title |
Portrait of Mary Harris, 1906 |
Description |
A framed, oil on canvas portrait painting of Mary Magrath Harris (1859-1954) by Caroline Farncomb. Mary is sitting on an ottoman in front of a window at Benares. She is wearing a cream-coloured dress and a blue hat as well as a gold locket and bracelets. She has one elbow resting on a pillow with her hand on her face. "C. Farncomb" is painted in red on the proper right bottom corner. The wooden frame is painted gold. |
Year Range from |
1906 |
Artist |
Farncomb, Caroline |
Dimensions |
W-3.2 L-101 cm |
History |
This portrait was painted in 1906 on the occasion of Annie's wedding to Beverly Sayers and depicts Mary wearing the same dress she wore to her daughter's wedding. It was painted in the upstairs guest bedroom and Mary is seated on an ottoman which now sits in the hallway upstairs. It was painted by close family friend Caroline Farncomb. Caroline Farncomb (1859-1951) was a well-respected RCA (Royal Canadian Academy) artist. She studied with Mlle. Van den Broeck in London, William Chase in New York, and Paris at the Academie Julian; and exhibited her work in Canada and Europe, receiving many first prizes in exhibitions in London, Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa. Several other Caroline Farncomb paintings can be found at Benares including the painting of Arthur Harris in the sitting room, and the still-life of waterfowl located in Arthur's bedroom. References: Gabriel P Weisberg and Jane R. Becker, Overcoming all Obstacles: The Women of the Academie Julian (New Jersey: Rutgers University, 1999) Nancy Geddes Poole The Art of London, 1830-1980 (London, Ontario: Blackpool Press, 1984) Rebecca Sisler, Passionate Spirits (Toronto: Clarke, Irwin and Company Limited, 1980), 36. |
People |
Harris, Mary Farncomb, Caroline |