Object Record
Images
Metadata
Accession # |
AC2016.6.1.02 |
Item Name |
Oil Painting Frame, Picture |
Description |
Oil painting on wood panel (.01), an untitled bust-length portrait of Helen Black (nee Foote, 1840-1925) by an unidentified artist, ca. 1885. She turns to face the viewer with her body turned slightly to the right. She has long, dark brown hair, parted at the centre and pulled back, likely into a bun. She is wearing a black dress or bodice with vertical black stripes, and a high collar, peaking out from which is a white under-collar. A gold brooch inset with red gemstones is affixed to her collar beneath her chin. It is roughly quatrefoil in shape and incorporates a small dangling pendant. Neutral background. Painting is mounted in an ornate, gold-painted and gilded wooden frame (.02) with floral motif featuring daisies, with strip of inner frame covered in red velvet. Late 20th-century or early 21st-century inscription on reverse of frame reads in part, "Helen / Ellen White Foote Black / March 29th / Born - 1840 - Scotland / Died - 1925 / Buried - Bellside Cemetery, Fergus." G381 |
Date |
Circa 1885 |
Provenance |
Helen Foote was born at Mull Hall Farm, at Kettins, Perthshire, Scotland on 29 March 1840, the eldest daughter of James Foote and Catherine Fergusson. The Foote family emigrated to Ontario from Coupar Angus, Perthshire, in 1843 and built a small limestone cottage on the north bank of the Grand River at Lot 6, Concession 1, West Garafraxa Township, just outside the village of Fergus. They called their new home "Blackburn Cottage". On 03 Nov. 1857, Helen Foote wed local butcher, John Black Sr. (1836-1892), and the couple purchased Blackburn Cottage from Helen's half-brother, David Foote. There they raised a family, while John Black Sr. expanded his business pursuits in the livestock and grain industry. In 1860 the couple began replacing the cottage with an elaborate limestone dwelling complex, a process which took a good twenty years to complete, with the last structure finished in 1879. The revamped Blackburn included the house, an enclosed high-walled garden that was terraced down to the river, a rootcellar and a stables, with a long limestone breezeway connecting them. The donor notes that In 1875, the home was equipped with running water, a bath, and shower, and that the Blacks hired "imported workmen and gardeners" to work on the estate. After her husband's unexpected death while travelling in 1892, Helen Black inherited the estate. She passed away in Fergus on 04 April 1925 and is buried in Belsyde Cemetery in Fergus, Ontario. This portrait of her, as well as the accompanying portrait of her husband (ART 1196) were handed down through the Black family. By the late-20th-century, they were in the possession of J. Ermine "Emma" Gallagher (1891-1979), who was the daughter of Jack Black and Mary Hughs. An inscription signed by J. Ermine Gallagher on the back of this portrait outlines their provenance, "These 2 pictures (a pair) were owned by Helen Sheppard (oldest grandchild of John and Helen Black). They were given to Emma Gallagher and are to be returned to 'Blackburn' at the discretion of my son John Black Gallagher." The donor is a relative of the Black family. |
Person \ Organization |
Belsyde Cemetery Black, Helen Black, Jack Black, John Dunlop, Helen Fergusson, Catherine Foote, David Foote, Helen Foote, James Gallagher, Emma Gallagher, J. Ermine Gallagher, John B. Hughs, Mary Sheppard, Helen |
Place |
Blackburn Fergus Grand River Ontario Perthshire Scotland West Garafraxa Twp. |
Year Range from |
1875 |
Year Range to |
1895 |
Art number |
Art 1195 |
Creator \ Maker |
Unknown |
Subjects |
Architecture Jewellery Portrait |
Makers mark |
Top portion in late 20th- or early 21st-century handwriting. It is a different hand to the bottom portion which is signed by J. Ermine Gallagher. J. Ermine Gallagher was born 11 March 1891 to Jack Black and Mary Hughs. Gallagher died in Fergus on 27 April 1979. |
Title (art only) |
Untitled |
Art Image size |
Approx. 25 (h) x 20 (w) cm |
Art Frame size |
44.5 (h) x 39.5 (w) x 5 (d) cm |