Who painted Scene in the Northwest: Portrait of John Henry Lefroy?

Scene in the Northwest: Portrait of John Henry Lefroy was painted by Paul Kane in 1845.

Where can I see Scene in the Northwest: Portrait of John Henry Lefroy?

Scene in the Northwest: Portrait of John Henry Lefroy is held by Art Gallery of Ontario.

What movement is Scene in the Northwest: Portrait of John Henry Lefroy?

Scene in the Northwest: Portrait of John Henry Lefroy is associated with Academic Art.

Artwork

Scene in the Northwest: Portrait of John Henry Lefroy

Paul Kane , 1845

Scene in the Northwest: Portrait of John Henry Lefroy is an oil painting by the Academic Art artist Paul Kane. It dates from 1845 and is held in the collection of the Art Gallery of Ontario.

About this work

Overview

Scene in the Northwest: Portrait of John Henry Lefroy is an 1845 oil painting by Paul Kane, depicting the British explorer in a winter landscape, set against the backdrop of his expedition to map the Magnetic North Pole.

Subject & Meaning

The painting portrays John Henry Lefroy, dressed as a coureur des bois, standing in snow shoes beside a dog sled, with a native woman's tipi and companions visible in the background, symbolizing his role in the expedition and interactions with Indigenous peoples.

Technique & Style

While specific stylistic details of the painting are not highlighted, Kane's representation of Lefroy in authentic expedition attire (yellow coat, red pants, snow shoes) amidst a detailed snowy scene with dogs, a sled, and a teepee, suggests meticulous attention to the subject's context and environment.

History & Provenance

After Lefroy returned to England in 1853 with the painting, it remained in his family for over 150 years, largely forgotten in Canada until its rediscovery by researchers. It was auctioned at Sotheby's Canada in 2002 for C$5,062,500, exceeding its appraisal, and was acquired by Ken Thomson for the Art Gallery of Ontario.

Context

Painted shortly after Lefroy's 1844 return to Toronto and before Kane's own western expeditions (funded in part due to Lefroy's influence), the work captures a pivotal moment in Canadian exploration history, reflecting the era's ventures into the Northwest.

Legacy

The sale of Scene in the Northwest in 2002 set a record for the most expensive Canadian painting sold at auction at the time, highlighting its significance in Canadian art and historical heritage, now preserved at the Art Gallery of Ontario.

Artist & collection

Artist

Paul Kane

Paul Kane (September 3, 1810 – February 20, 1871) was an Irish-born Canadian painter whose paintings and especially field sketches were known as one of the first visual documents of Western indigenous life.