A Gentleman of Quebec, 1856

P. Labranche, Montreal Walter Klinkoff Gallery, Montreal, 1977 Acquired by the present Private Collection, November 1977

“Collector’s Canada: Selections from a Toronto Private Collection”, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto; travelling to Musée du Québec, Quebec City; Vancouver Art Gallery; Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, 14 May 1988‒7 May 1989, no. 4 “Home Truths”, The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa; travelling to Mississauga Living Arts Centre; Rodman Hall, St. Catharines, 4 September 1997‒22 February 1998 “Hommage to Walter Klinkhoff (Part I)”, Galerie Walter Klinkhoff, Montreal, September 1988, no. 11 “Embracing Canada: Landscapes from Krieghoff to the Group of Seven”, Vancouver Art Gallery; travelling to the Glenbow Museum, Calgary; Art Gallery of Hamilton, 29 October 2015‒5 September 2016 “Highlights from ‘Embracing Canada’”, Annual Loan Exhibition, Galerie Eric Klinkhoff, Montreal, 22 October‒5 November 2016, no. 3

Joan Murray, “Home Truths: A Celebration of Family Life by Canada’s Best-Loved Painters”, Toronto, 1997, plate 28, reproduced page 49 Dennis Reid, “Collector’s Canada: Selections from a Toronto Private Collection”, Toronto, 1988, no. 4, reproduced page 17 Ian Thom, et al., “Embracing Canada: Landscapes from Krieghoff to the Group of Seven”, Vancouver/London, 2015, page 200, reproduced page 15

Théophile Hamel began his career at the young age of sixteen, when he accepted an apprenticeship with Antoine Plamondon, the most prominent Quebec artist at the time. During this six-year period, Hamel received a strong formal training in European-style painting and portraiture. Upon leaving Plamondon’s workshop, Hamel traveled to Europe from 1843 to 1846, staying in Rome, Venice, London and Paris, to further his study of historical portrait painting. After settling in Montreal, Hamel quickly won the respect of the élite; he was encouraged by the three dominant social groups interested in art: clergy, politicians, and businessmen. He was appointed official portrait painter by the government of the United Canadas in June 1853, and entrusted with the high honour of painting portraits of past and present speakers of the assemblies and legislative councils. Hamel’s style was known for its verisimilitude; he had a particular talent for handling daring chromatic effects, reflections and the rendition of luxurious fabrics.