Page 167 - YGARTUA: Magnum Opus - volume three

“In 2003 I was approached by a Swiss Banker was a combination of paintings from that

who was interested in commissioning me to time period, with the natives and French

do the principal painting for his self-owned that had gathered together with the British

bank in Montreal. I had already been for the signing of the Treaty. I did have to

approached by a Japanese Banker, here in do quite a bit of research on the subject- it

Vancouver who also owned his own bank is always crucial that the main figure is

and bought a large Harley Davidson

painting for his Boardroom.

The Swiss Banker, whose bank was

in Montreal, wanted me to reproduce

The Great Peace of Montreal, the

famous Peace Treaty of 1701. It was

an honor and I did enjoy having my works commanding, giving that powerful presence

in such prominence, but unfortunately have I am always trying to introduce to make a

no records here in Vancouver I took no predominant statement.

photos and did not ask the Swiss Banker to We had already spent one year in Quebec

take photos. City, at the time, represented by a Gallery on

Years back, we were constantly on the move, Rue St. Paul (now retired) and also with a

not only living in different parts of the world, gallery in Montreal. When living in Quebec,

but also exhibiting in different parts of the one becomes very aware of their history

world. At that time, we didn’t really think of and the fascination of Quebec City, one of

the value of historical records of my work in the oldest European settlements in North

strategic locations around the world. America – founded nearly 400 years ago

The Swiss Banker was already an admirer of and quickly minted as the “Capital of New

my native work, and his idea was to have a France,” the city eventually fell under British

study of a Huron Native in the foreground, rule before Canada declared independence

as the Hurons among other Indigenous in 1867. I did feel a connection, in particular

Groups were allied with the French, so to this subject matter, due to our familiarity

important that a Huron Native would be in with Quebec and the Quebecois and their

the forefront of the painting. The backdrop history that made a statement in my painting.

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