The Union Club of B.C. “The New Millennium”

The Union Club of B.C. “The New Millennium”, 2001. Artist's reproduction print on paper 1/225 by Peter James Robertson

The Union Club of B.C. “The New Millennium”, 2001. Artist's reproduction print on paper 1/225 by Peter James Robertson

Name/Title

The Union Club of B.C. “The New Millennium”

Entry/Object ID

2018.10.06

Description

Print This artist's reproduction print shows the Club on Gordon Street, a façade view from Humboldt, at the dawn of the new millennium in 2001. This building is the third clubhouse venue. Founded in 1879, the Union Club of British Columbia is a landmark institution in the heart of downtown Victoria., B.C., considered the foremost business, social and cultural club in the city.

Artwork Details

Medium

Colour print on paper

Subject Place

Region

Pacific Northwest

Continent

North America

Context

This Union Club building was recognized as nationally significant in 1995 by the joint federal, provincial and territorial administered registry, Canada’s Historic Places. And in 2017, The Union Club of British Columbia was declared a National Historic Site by the Government of Canada. The Union Club, completed in 1913, earned the prestigious status for its important early history and outstanding architecture of Beaux-Arts Italian Renaissance Revival Style. Designed by noted San Francisco architect Loring P. Rixford (1870-1946), plans for the building were drawn up with the help of prominent Victoria architect Francis Mawson Rattenbury (1867-1935). Of note, in addition to the building's elegant design, is it's juxtaposition with The Empress Hotel (1908), a nationally significant Château-style hotel, built for the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Belmont Building (1912), significant for its early use of concrete frame construction and as a gatepost to Victoria's commercial core. Together these buildings form a backdrop of historic places in the northeast corner of the Inner Harbour, and mark the entrance to Victoria's Old Town District. In 2017, an extensive $4 million five-year building renovation project was completed, including exterior restoration. The restoration of the exterior terracotta was documented and the photographs now form part of the Club's collection. See 2018.06.01 - 2018.06.15.

Made/Created

Artist Information

Artist

Peter James Robertson

Role

Artist

Artist

Unknown

Role

Printmaker

Date made

2001

Time Period

21st Century

Notes

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY Born in Dundee, Scotland, Peter James Robertson has been a freelance gouache painter in Victoria, B.C. since 1989, specializing in landmark and tourism images. He moved with his family to Saskatchewan at age four. After high school he attended art college for two years in Edmonton, Alberta to study advertising art. Robertson’s professional art career began in neon sign design, working in various corporate art departments throughout Western Canada. Robertson developed strong, innovative techniques with gouache and airbrush that he first explored in architectural illustrations. In the 1990s, Robertson painted commissioned portraits then began focusing on the painting of realistic landmark images such as The Empress Hotel, BC Superferries, the BC Legislature, and the Butchart Gardens. He also ventures into surrealistic images including black pen and ink collages. He teaches private and class art sessions and has been a featured painter at the Victoria 'Moss Street Paint-In'.

Edition

Edition

The Union Club of B.C.

Edition Size

225

Edition Number

1

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Signature, Date, Inscription, Label

Location

Signed and dated lower right in print: PETER ROBERTSON 2001©

Transcription

Lower left in pencil: 1/225 Lower centre in pencil: "The Union Club of B.C." Lower right in pencil: Peter Robertson Label verso frame?

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Visible image

Height

40.6 cm

Width

58.4 cm

Acquisition

Notes

Detail unknown

Relationships

Related Entries

Notes

By Peter James Robertson: 2018.10.05 The Union Club of B.C. The New Millennium (40/225) 2018.10.06 The Union Club of B.C. The New Millennium (1/225) 2023.04.15 The Union Club of B.C. The New Millennium (43/225)