Primary sourcePhotograph1863

George-Etienne Cartier

William Notman · 1863

William Notman's 1863 studio portrait of George-Étienne Cartier as co-premier of the Province of Canada.

A studio portrait of Cartier taken while he was co-premier of the Province of Canada, before Confederation.

Ask George-Étienne Cartier about this source View the original

Black-and-white studio portrait of a standing man in a long double-breasted frock coat, vest, and bow tie, one hand on hip and one holding a rolled paper on an ornate carved table. Draped curtain and painted backdrop behind him. — William Notman, George-Etienne Cartier, Montreal, QC, 1863.

About this source

What it is

This is a photograph taken in 1863 by William Notman in his Montreal studio. It shows George-Étienne Cartier standing in a frock coat, one hand on his hip, the other resting on a rolled paper on an ornate table.

Why it matters

At the time this photograph was taken, Cartier was co-premier of the Province of Canada, a position of great political power just before the Confederation conferences began. Notman's studio produced many formal portraits of political leaders of the era, and this image is considered a standard likeness of Cartier at this stage of his career.

Look closer

What does the pose and clothing suggest about how Cartier wanted to be seen?
Why might a rolled paper be included as a prop in this portrait?
What can a formal studio photograph tell us, and what can it not tell us, about a person's political life?

This photograph is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of George-Étienne Cartier on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

More George-Étienne Cartier sources

Meet the AI George-Étienne Cartier →

Photograph

Primary source

Charlottetown Conference Delegates, September 1864

George P. Roberts · September 1864

Title page of an 1867 printed copy of the British North America Act, reading 'An Act of the Imperial Parliament for the Union of Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and the Government Thereof', with a royal crest and 'Ottawa: Printed by Hunter, Rose & Co. 1867'.

Document

Primary source

Constitution Act, 1867

1867

Black-and-white studio portrait of an older man with swept-back gray hair, wearing a dark jacket, light waistcoat, and dark bow tie, facing the camera against a plain gray backdrop.

Photograph

Primary source

Sir George Etienne Cartier

William Notman

Black and white studio portrait of a man with light, swept-back hair in a long dark frock coat, high white collar, dark bow tie, and waistcoat. He stands with one hand on his hip and the other resting on a large rolled paper on a carved table.

Photograph

Primary source