Painting, Oil: J.R. Booth

Painting

-

Bytown Museum / Musée Bytown

Name/Title

Painting, Oil: J.R. Booth

Entry/Object ID

2016.002.01.01

Description

One large, rectangular, framed portrait painting of John Rudolphus Booth complete with ornate gilt wood and plaster frame and glazing. Head and shoulders portrait depicts a seated J.R. Booth in a black buttoned wool coat and white shirt. Booth has white hair and a large white beard. Frame is of wood with ornate plaster decoration in a vine, leaf and berry motif complete with gilt finish. Three small plaques decorate the lower edge of the frame, reading (from viewer's left to viewer's right): "JOHN RUDOLPHUS BOOTH // Founder and First President // of // J.R. Booth Limited," "Presented to The Company by HOWARD SMITH // a Staff Member of our // Fort Coulonge Branch // for 47 years," and "Born at Waterloo, Quebec // 5 April, 1827 // Died at Ottawa, Ontario // 8 December, 1925." Original stretcher and wooden keys are visible on reverse; joints are covered with brown paper. Painting is undated and unsigned.

Made/Created

Date made

1890

Notes

Additional create date: 1910

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Location

Bottom left

Transcription

�JOHN RUDOLPHUS BOOTH // Founder and First President // of // J.R. Booth Limited"

Notes

Engraved Engraved on a brass plaque. Position Notes: Viewer's left; bottom.

Transcription

�Presented to The Company by HOWARD SMITH // a Staff Member of our // Fort Coulonge Branch // for 47 years�

Notes

Engraved Engraved on a brass plaque. Position Notes: Centre; bottom.

Transcription

�Born at Waterloo, Quebec // 5 April, 1827 // Died at Ottawa, Ontario // 8 December, 1925.�

Notes

Engraved Engraved on a brass plaque. Position Notes: Viewer's right; bottom.

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Painting

Nomenclature Class

Art

Nomenclature Category

Category 08: Communication Objects

Legacy Lexicon

Object Name

Painting (visual work), Oil on canvas, Painting

Dimensions

Height

105 cm

Width

92 cm

Depth

10.5 cm

Dimension Notes

2016-03-07

Dimension Description

Plate

Height

5 cm

Width

10.5 cm

Dimension Notes

Three engraved brass plaques along lower frame edge. See marks for details. 2016-03-07

Research Notes

Notes

Result: Attributed Howard Smith, was employed by Eddy/Booth from about 1917 until about 1964 and then donated the painting to the Company upon his retirement.

Notes

John Rudolphus Booth was born to Irish parents in the Eastern Townships, Qu�bec in 1827. A carpenter by trade, Booth was also involved in the construction and running of several paper and sawmills in Qu�bec and Ontario. In 1860, Booth won the contract to provide lumber for the construction of the new Parliament Buildings in Ottawa. This lucrative contract enabled him to purchase his own sawmill and pineries, effectively launching his lumber empire. Booth invested in numerous other ventures, many of which supported or complemented his lumber enterprise. For instance, in 1879 Booth helped found and finance the Canada Atlantic Railway. While J.R. Booth has been described by historians as an autocratic manager, he was also quietly philanthropic. He donated generously to the Young Men’s Christian Association, St. Luke’s General Hospital, and many other charitable organizations.