Accession Number

987.014b

Description

An oil painting on canvas in a gilt frame, the scene comprised of a small lake or marsh surrounded by deciduous trees, the sky filled with dark grey clouds, two black birds flying near the bottom left above the artist's indistinct signature.

Narrative

The former owner of this picture, Archie Wills, was a prominent Victoria, B.C. newspaper writer. He was an early colleague of Castle Society founder James K. Nesbitt and wrote numerous articles on the Dunsmuir family and on aspects of old Victoria.  He occasionally lectured at Victoria College when it occupied Craigdarroch.

History of Use

This late 19th or early 20th century oil painting was one of a pair purchased in Toronto by the donor's great grandmother, Mary Knapp, before the Great War. In 1919 or soon thereafter, she gave the painting to her daughter and son-in-law, Lydia and Henry Archibald ("Archie") Wills of Victoria, B.C.

Date

1890 – 1919

Dimensions

39.5 x 6 x 49.5 cm

Artwork Title

untitled

Medium

Oil

Support

Canvas