New to the art collections at The Whyte is a stunning piece of Canadian heritage: Fishing Camp, the Rockies, an oil painting by John Arthur Fraser R.C.A. (British, 1838-1898), recently donated by Grit and Scott McCreath. Originally displayed in the in the inaugural exhibition of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (RCA) in 1880, this painting depicts the striking Mt. Carroll (now Mt. Macdonald) near Rogers Pass, a landmark of Fraser's early Canadian landscapes. Having such a rare work outside a public collection is remarkable, making the McCreaths’ donation an extraordinary contribution to Canadian art.
“We chose to donate the Fraser painting in recognition of the outstanding contributions Anne Ewen and Donna Livingstone have made to the museum, as well as to honour the extraordinary relationship we shared with these two gifted women,” shared Grit and Scott. “Working alongside them has been a true pleasure.”
The McCreaths felt that this significant piece of Canadian history was fitting to be cherished and shared with the public at The Whyte, a cultural pillar of the Canadian Rockies. As they explained, “This painting holds deep historical importance. Fraser was commissioned to document the West and the Rockies by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) president during its construction. A member of the famous ‘Railway Painters,’ Fraser captured scenes from the largest construction project in Canadian history. The mountain depicted, originally named Mt. Carroll after the CPR engineer who developed its difficult tunnel route, was later renamed Mt. Macdonald to honour Canada’s first Prime Minister.”
Fraser's contributions to Canadian art were far-reaching. Initially hired by William Notman’s Montreal photographic firm in 1860, his watercolour and oil paintings were influenced by photography, exhibiting regularly with the Art Association of Montreal. Relocating to Toronto in 1868, Fraser co-founded Notman & Fraser, a celebrated photographic firm, and influenced a generation of artists, including Robert Gagen, Homer Watson, George Reid, and Horatio Walker. Selected for the first CPR pass program in 1886 alongside O’Brien and John Collins Forbes, Fraser exhibited internationally at venues such as the National Academy in London, the Paris Salon, and the Chicago World’s Fair, where he was awarded a medal.
This historic Fraser painting now finds its home at The Whyte where it will be cherished, adding a profound layer to the museum's rich tapestry of Canadian heritage.
Learn more about our collections and culture by visiting the current exhibitions at The Whyte! Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 pm. at 111 Bear Street, Banff, AB.
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