For those familiar with his work, it comes as no surprise that Phil Richards—one of Canada’s most prolific portrait painters—was selected to paint the official portrait of former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, unveiled on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Feb. 3.
Richards graduated from the Ontario College of Art (OCA), now OCAD University, with a degree in drawing and painting in 1973.
The painting depicts Harper as a younger man in the prime minister’s Centre Block office and includes symbolic references to his personal, political and professional life.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, Richards said, “I consider portraiture to be a collaboration between artist and subject. Mr. Harper embraced the task with genuine enthusiasm.”
He added that their “wide-ranging discussions on politics, economics, history, art, sports, psychology, and gossip” gave him “a very different impression of Mr. Harper’s personality than that which had been created by the media,” drawing applause and laughter from the audience.
“Portraits are painted for posterity,” said Richards. “My hope is that this picture will be a fitting tribute to one of the most capable and respected world leaders of the 21st century.”
Richards began exhibiting commercially in 1969 and has participated in numerous solo and group shows in Canada, the United States and Europe.
His practice spans a wide range of genres, including large-scale murals, figure paintings, landscapes, still life, and portraiture, and he works in diverse media such as acrylic, casein, watercolour, coloured pencil, graphite, and sculpted relief.
Richards’ commissions include official portraits for many government leaders, including provincial Premiers, Speakers and Lieutenant Governors; education leaders at universities such as the University of Toronto, Western University and Dalhousie University, among others.
One of his most notable commissions is the official Diamond Jubilee Portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth II for the Government of Canada. This portrait was commissioned in 2010 by the Government of Canada and unveiled at Buckingham Palace on June 6, 2012.
The tradition of official prime ministerial portraits dates to 1890, when Sir John A. Macdonald attended the unveiling of his own official portrait in the original Parliament Building.
Sources:
The Toronto Star
Government of Canada Publications
