There are three portraits of women each holding a book in her hand in this exhibition: Frances Moore Brooke by Catherine Read (Room 1), Sarah Salomon by Louis Dulongpré (Room 2), and a young lady reading in the Beauharnois manor by Katherine Jane Ellice (Room 3). That women read works of fiction and books concerning child education is evident from the recurring theme of women reading. Books, in the same way as other accessories, suggested a certain rank: that of owners of property and knowledge. The portraits of men in this exhibition often include references to their place of work or the work itself: books, writing desks, documents or bookshelves. Printed matter is also represented in many forms: books, newspapers, magazines, posters, engravings, playing cards, satirical cartoons…
 Catherine Read (1723-1778), Frances Moore Brooke (1724-1789), about 1771, oil on canvas, 72,4 x 60 cm, Ottawa, National Archives of Canada, 1981-88-1. |
Katherine Jane Balfour-Ellice (ca 1814-1864), The Interior of the Seigniory House at Beauharnois, Lower Canada, 1838, water-colour, 6 1/2 x 8 3/4 inches, Ottawa, National Archives of Canada, I-6. Photo Robert Derome. |
Louis Dulongpré (1759-1843), Sarah Solomon (ca 1769/1770-1812), 1818, oil on canvas pasted on cardboard, 73 x 61,5 cm, Montréal, McCord Museum of Canadian History, M8355. |
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Sarah Solomon was the wife of Thomas McCord, justice of the peace and politician. Their portraits were painted either in Ireland or London at the end of the 18th century. They later ordered copies from Dulongpré. These portraits are not a pair; Sarah's was made six years after her death. Putting a book in her hand is more suggestive of reading, either actual or differed, than putting it on a table or a bookshelf. The intimacy of reading is suggested by the depiction of shadows and light on the open book: Sarah seems to be unwillingly tearing herself from her book just long enough to look at the painter. |
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