List of portraits in the Centre Block


The Centre Block, part of the complex of parliamentary buildings on Parliament Hill in Canada's capital, Ottawa, hosts a gallery of portraits of present and former Canadian monarchs, former Prime Ministers of Canada, and other figures.

History

The collection of portraits of Canada's monarchs originated with the acquiring of a state portrait of Queen Victoria for the parliament buildings of the Province of Canada in Montreal in 1849. As successive monarchs came to the throne, their portraits were added to the gallery. However, it was not until Senator Serge Joyal took on the personal project of amassing portraits of monarchs prior to Victoria that the collection came closer to completion, including the Kings of France since Francis I.
The prime minister's portrait gallery dates back to 1890, when John A. Macdonald, the first prime minister of the Dominion of Canada, assisted in the unveiling of his own portrait. At first, the works were commissioned by friends and colleagues, made by the artist's own initiative, and then donated to the Crown Collection. A century later, a more systematic approach was implemented, and the artist is now chosen by the prime minister, although Curatorial Services provide suggerences and assistance on the choice.
The portraits are viewed by over 400,000 people a year.

Works

Paintings of Speakers of the House of Commons

Sculptures

Title/SubjectPublic OfficeArtistDate Painted/CreatedMedium
George Harold BakerMember of ParliamentRobert Tait McKenzie1923Bronze
Robert BordenPrime MinisterAlfred Laliberté1915Marble
Robert BordenPrime MinisterLionel Gooch Fosbery1927Plaster, painted
Ellen FaircloughFirst Woman Cabinet MinisterElizabeth M. Bradford Holbrook1959Bronze
William Lyon Mackenzie KingPrime MinisterAvard Tennyson Fairbanks1943Bronze
Wilfrid LaurierPrime MinisterLionel Gooch Fosbery1938Plaster, painted
Alexander MackenziePrime MinisterCléophas Soucy1943Plaster, painted
Agnes MacphailFirst woman elected to the House of CommonsFelix Weihs de Weldon1939Bronze
Roland MichenerGovernor General, Speaker of the House of CommonsKenneth Jarvis1982Bronze
Louis St. LaurentPrime Minister, Member of ParliamentErnest Richard Gause1954Bronze
J. S. WoodsworthLeader of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, Member of ParliamentCléophas Soucy1946Plaster, painted
John George BourinotClerk of the House of CommonsRoland Beauchamp1949Bronze
Adam Dollard des Ormeauxcolonist and soldier in Ville Marie, New FranceAlfred Laliberté1923 Bronze
La FranceAuguste Rodin1921 Bronze