Fredrik and Catherine Eaton’s donated objects representing General Wolfe to be displayed in the ROM’s Sigmund Samuel Gallery of Canada
In a gathering taking place at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) on Tuesday morning, March 31, ROM Director and CEO William Thorsell will acknowledge Mr. Fredrik S. Eaton’s recent donations to the Museum’s Canadian collections. A painting and a statuette, both representing General James Wolfe, will be installed to complement The Death of General Wolfe (1776), a work recently chosen as one of the ROM’s 15 Iconic Objects. Already on display in the Sigmund Samuel Gallery of Canada on Level 1 of the Weston Family Wing is Benjamin West’s classic canvas, one of the five early versions, depicting the final moments of British General James Wolfe during the 1759 Battle of Quebec. In recognition of Mr. Eaton’s donations to the ROM’s collections, in addition to his generous gift to the Renaissance ROM Campaign, the ROM is pleased to name The Death of General Wolfe Exhibit in his honour.
William Thorsell states, “These objects donated by Fredrik and Catherine Eaton again remind the Museum of the many and varied ways in which the Eaton family offers its support. The ROM, as always, is grateful to Fredrik and Catherine and our visitors will benefit from their generosity.”
Benjamin West’s painting and the figure of General James Wolfe are long-time passions for Mr. Eaton due to their roles in shaping Canada’s identity. Mr. Eaton remarks, “The Death of General Wolfe is a pivotal moment in Canada’s history and an event to be shared with everyone who visits the ROM. This new and expanded exhibit is a testament to this period of Canada’s history, one which shaped the nation in which we live today.”
Arlene Gehmacher, Curator, Canadian Art in the ROM’s World Cultures department, further comments, “Mr. Eaton’s gifts and their placement in close proximity with the ROM’s epic The Death of General Wolfe help us understand the role West’s image played in establishing and perpetuating in the consciousness of many this particular moment in Canadian history. Such gifts enrich the Museum’s ability and those of its visitors to more fully interpret and appreciate its objects.”
From the ROM’s rich collections of approximately six million artifacts and specimens, 15 Iconic Objects have been selected by a panel of curators. Chosen for their cultural importance, rarity, and contribution to international scholarship, these Iconic Objects include The Death of General Wolfe. The Benjamin West painting is among the first of these objects to be accompanied by a bilingual, multimedia kiosk, creating an additional layer of engagement with the exhibition for the visitor. The kiosk’s video includes a discussion by curator Arlene Gehmacher on the popularity of West's image and, as well, a discussion on the conservation of paintings by Heidi Sobol, the ROM's Senior Paintings Conservator. The Iconic Objects represent the next step in the ROM's new vision for programming, making effective use of digital media to increase public understanding of the Museum’s collections, both in the galleries and on the web.
The Eaton Gifts
The Death of General Wolfe (19th century) is most likely based on William Woollett’s highly popular 1776 engraving of Benjamin West’s painting. Woollett’s engraving would have been the most easily accessible source of West’s famous image throughout most of the 19th century. The difference in the colour of Wolfe’s uniform - here red and yellow ochre in contrast to all-red in West’s original painting - might best be explained as an aesthetic choice.
The statuette General James Wolfe was created in 1911 by Vernon March (1891-1930). The British sculptor early on in his career engaged with Canadian history; by 1911 he had already exhibited at the Royal Academy (London) bronze statuettes of Wolfe and Admiral Nelson. March is perhaps best known in Canada for his design of the Canadian War Memorial in Ottawa, commissioned in 1926.
Both painting and sculpture attest to an abiding interest in General Wolfe and Canadian history by donor Fredrik S. Eaton. They are welcome additions to the ROM’s collection of Canadiana, renowned for its rich holdings of historical decorative and pictorial arts,
Fredrik S. Eaton
Toronto native Fredrik S. Eaton, the great-grandson of Eaton’s department store founder Timothy Eaton, is the second son of the late John David and Signy Eaton. He and his wife Catherine have one son and one daughter. In 1962, he joined the T. Eaton Company Limited as a salesperson. From 1977 to 1988, he served as Chairman, President and CEO of Eaton's. In 1990, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada; from 1991 to 1994, he served as Canadian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom; and, in 2001, Fredrik Eaton was awarded the Order of Ontario.
The Eaton family’s ongoing commitment to the ROM, including the donation of objects, personal commitment of time and generous levels of philanthropy, can be found throughout the Museum. In the 1920s, the Eatons donated funds to purchase a number of significant pieces for the European furniture collection. From the 1930s to the 1950s, the T. Eaton Company continued to donate numerous outstanding objects. These donations have been wide-ranging, from European decorative arts to Canadian textiles to gems to African art and now, Canadian decorative arts. Members of the Eaton family are also major donors to Renaissance ROM, as reflected in the Signy & Cléophée Eaton Theatre and the Eaton Gallery of Rome.
Renaissance ROM Canadian Initiative
The Royal Ontario Museum holds one of the finest collections of Canadian patrimony, a remarkable cultural asset that conveys the rich and varied history of Canada’s peoples. Renaissance ROM offers an opportunity to refocus this collection and strengthen Canada’s presence at and outside the ROM.
Inspired by Mr. Eaton’s generous donations to the Canadian collections and a gift to the Renaissance ROM Campaign, the ROM Governors are launching the Canadian Initiative, a multi-goal project that will raise both funds and recognition for the ROM's Canadian collections and programs.
Renaissance ROM
Renaissance ROM is one of the largest museum projects in the world. Through Renaissance ROM, the Museum has restored its heritage buildings and galleries, has created a provocative landmark - the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal - and has sparked city-wide excitement in art, culture and the natural world. The Renaissance ROM Campaign has raised a remarkable $275.7 million to date, making it one of the most successful cultural campaigns in Canada. Renaissance ROM has secured $2.3 million in gifts over the past month alone - a true testament to the loyal donors who believe in the ROM and want to see the successful completion of the campaign.