Murray Wood: Signs of spring appearing in Saskatchewan
Murray Wood says signs of spring were all over the place on the weekend, even though the forecast remains wintery for th...
A painting belonging to the Government of Saskatchewan has traveled around the world to return home to Ireland.
The nearly-150-year-old watercolor portrait is being displayed in a gallery in Waterford, Ireland as part of a long-term loan from the Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan. The subject is Mary Palliser, the sister of famous explorer John Palliser, who ventured through much of Canada and Saskatchewan in the 1840s and 50s.
The piece is by renowned Irish painter Frederic William Burton, whose 1864 piece Meeting on the Turret Stairs was voted Ireland’s favourite painting of all time in 2012.
“The Government of Saskatchewan is happy to share the Palliser painting with the Irish public and strengthen our shared connections around the world during a time when physical travel is a challenge,” Minister Responsible for the Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan Jim Reiter said. “The people of Waterford, Ireland will enjoy viewing the painting and Saskatchewan’s contribution to archival history.
The Palliser family comes from Comeragh, Ireland, and Mary palliser is buried in the Comeragh Cemetery. It’s actually her portrait’s second trip to Ireland after being displayed in Dublin for an exhibition of Burton’s works.
The portrait was donated to the provincial archives by a descendent of the Palliser family in 1994.
