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Primary sourcePainting1890

The Rt. Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald

Robert Harris · 1890

An 1890 oil portrait of Sir John A. Macdonald by the Canadian artist Robert Harris, painted during Macdonald's lifetime.

A lifetime portrait of Macdonald, reportedly made at his own request to be painted honestly, 'warts and everything.'

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Oil painting of an elderly man with white hair and a light complexion, seated in a dark red upholstered armchair, wearing a dark suit, white collar, and red cravat. His hands rest near his lap, and the background is dark brown. The artist's signature appears in the lower right corner.
Robert Harris, The Rt. Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald, 1890.

About this source

What it is

This oil painting was made in 1890 by the Canadian artist Robert Harris. It shows an elderly Sir John A. Macdonald, with white hair, seated in a dark red armchair and wearing a dark suit with a red cravat. The artist's signature appears in the lower right corner.

Why it matters

According to the collection record, Macdonald asked Harris to "paint me, warts and everything," suggesting he wanted an honest, unflattering likeness rather than an idealized one. Painted near the end of his life and his long career as prime minister, the portrait offers a glimpse of how Macdonald wished to be remembered.

Look closer

  • What does Macdonald's reported request to be painted "warts and everything" tell you about how he wanted to be seen?
  • What does his pose and expression suggest about his character or state of mind?
  • How might a painted portrait differ from a photograph in what it reveals about its subject?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Sir John A. Macdonald on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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