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Great Scott! A famous, but yet unfamiliar face to some, will be making his return to his proper place along City Hall’s Heritage Building hallway. It’s a return shrouded with intrigue and mystery.
He is John Scott, Bytown’s first Mayor. He was elected in 1847 and won a second term in 1850. In addition to his mayoral duties, he represented Bytown in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada from 1848 to 1851. As was customary for politicians, a portrait of John Scott was commissioned.
“We think the portrait likely hung at Ottawa City Hall at one point but somewhere along the way, it disappeared,” explained City Archivist Paul Henry. “In all likelihood, it was likely taken during the fire at City Hall in 1931. We suspect someone grabbed it for safe keeping. After that we really aren’t sure what happened to the portrait.”
Here is what we know and think we know.
The portrait disappeared, leaving the City with only a photo of the original. It was likely taken from City Hall to save it from the 1931 fire. For the next 70 or 80 years, the portrait’s whereabouts remain a mystery.
A few years back, the Historical Society of Ottawa donated a collection to the City of Ottawa Archives. When staff went through the collection, one item, catalogued as ‘unknown’ immediately caught their eye,
“We have a photograph of the portrait hanging at Ottawa City Hall,” said Henry. “As soon as we saw it, we knew it was John Scott and that the portrait had finally made its way home.
Over the last few years, the Archives have worked to restore the portrait and they’re now ready to hang it in the halls of the Heritage Building of Ottawa City Hall. But the mystery doesn’t entirely end there.
“When we were restoring the portrait, we found something hidden behind the canvas,” said Henry. “It was a small key, likely to a safety deposit box. We think someone had hidden the key on top of the painting and, at some point, it fell inside.”
So where was the portrait and who’s key fell inside? We will likely never truly know.
See the John Scott portrait on display on the walls of the Heritage Building at Ottawa City Hall.
查看原文...
He is John Scott, Bytown’s first Mayor. He was elected in 1847 and won a second term in 1850. In addition to his mayoral duties, he represented Bytown in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada from 1848 to 1851. As was customary for politicians, a portrait of John Scott was commissioned.
“We think the portrait likely hung at Ottawa City Hall at one point but somewhere along the way, it disappeared,” explained City Archivist Paul Henry. “In all likelihood, it was likely taken during the fire at City Hall in 1931. We suspect someone grabbed it for safe keeping. After that we really aren’t sure what happened to the portrait.”
Here is what we know and think we know.
The portrait disappeared, leaving the City with only a photo of the original. It was likely taken from City Hall to save it from the 1931 fire. For the next 70 or 80 years, the portrait’s whereabouts remain a mystery.
A few years back, the Historical Society of Ottawa donated a collection to the City of Ottawa Archives. When staff went through the collection, one item, catalogued as ‘unknown’ immediately caught their eye,
“We have a photograph of the portrait hanging at Ottawa City Hall,” said Henry. “As soon as we saw it, we knew it was John Scott and that the portrait had finally made its way home.
Over the last few years, the Archives have worked to restore the portrait and they’re now ready to hang it in the halls of the Heritage Building of Ottawa City Hall. But the mystery doesn’t entirely end there.
“When we were restoring the portrait, we found something hidden behind the canvas,” said Henry. “It was a small key, likely to a safety deposit box. We think someone had hidden the key on top of the painting and, at some point, it fell inside.”
So where was the portrait and who’s key fell inside? We will likely never truly know.
See the John Scott portrait on display on the walls of the Heritage Building at Ottawa City Hall.
查看原文...
