Nicholas de Grandmaison: Canadian Historical Art Exhibition
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Loch Gallery Calgary 314 12 Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta T2R 0H2
Nicholas de Grandmaison, Indigenous Portrait (Chief Eagle Plume)," n.d.
pastel on sandpaper, 26” x 20”
We are pleased to launch an exhibition of noteworthy historical Canadian artworks at Loch Gallery, Calgary with a spotlight on Nicholas de Grandmaison.
Ian Loch says, “We want to tell a story with this grouping of Nichols de Grandmaison portraits. The majority of these artworks come from one local estate and represent the passion of one individual who devoted decades to collecting these portraits.”
Born in Russia, Nicholas de Grandmaison (1892 – 1978) left his home country as a refugee following the Russian Revolution and the First World War. Eventually he immigrated to Canada and made Banff his home. He spent many years exploring the land and people of Canada, building strong relationships within the Indigenous Nations in the Treaty 7 territory. In 1959, he was inducted as an honorary member of the Piikani Nation and given the name of Enuksapop or ‘Little Plume’.
A highlight of the exhibition is a grouping of three portraits depicting de Grandmaison’s dear friend, Chief Sitting Eagle, or John Hunter. Sitting Eagle (1874 – 1970) was Chief of the Stoney Nakoda First Nation in Morely, Alberta. He was heavily involved with the Calgary Stampede and was recognized for his success in business and ranching. His headdress is held in the collection of the Glenbow Museum and a larger than life sized statue of Chief Sitting Eagle can be found on the corner of 7th Avenue and 6th Street SW in Calgary.
This exhibition will also include work by William Kurelek, David Milne, Mary Pratt, Joe Fafard among others.
While our gallery is open by appointment only, we invite art enthusiasts and collectors to take a virtual tour of this exhibition from the comfort of home. This tour will be made available on our website here, starting December 1st.