Painting, the shakespeare club, montreal, 1847, oil on canvas, 36 x 51 cm
"the painting represents the shakespeare club, a dramatic and literary society founded in montreal on september 18, 1843. The club had rooms over chalmer's bookstore on great st. James street and dined occasionally at dolly's or at the rialto near donegana's hotel on notre dame street. As the painting shows a group of men seated and smoking, it is most likely the interior of the club rooms. The painting is signed and dated "c. Krieghoff, 47". Cornelius krieghoff (1815-1872) joined the club by may 25, 1847 as his name appears on the list of ordinary members at this date. Six of the people in the painting are identifiable. In the upper right corner is krieghoff himself, standing and smoking a long pipe. At the left of the table blowing smoke in the air is john young (1811-1878) a prominent montreal businessman and politician who at the time of the painting was a strong advocate of the st. Lawrence and atlantic railway to build a rail connection between montreal and portland. To his right f. W. Torrance was a rising young lawyer and future judge. Next, standing was edmund allen meredith (1817-1899), then principal of mcgill university. To his right, sir allan napier macnab (1798-1862) speaker of the house of assembly, which sat in montreal at this time. In the right front foreground, lighting his pipe is john budden of quebec, a member of the auction firm of a. J. Maxham and company and a man who was to become one of krieghoff's closest companions. " – canadianshakespeares. Ca. Object Type: painting. Date: 1847. Medium: oil on canvas.
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