Portrait of Prime Minister John A. Macdonald
The unveiling of Henry Sandham’s portrait of Prime Minister John A. Macdonald, on the leader’s 75th birthday in 1890, was an unofficial launch of the tradition of official portraits for Canadian Prime Ministers. The ceremony in the original Parliament building revealed a portrait of a determined and confident leader. No background accoutrements were required for the Glasgow-born Macdonald, as the vivid uniform of the Imperial Privy Council and the Order of the Bath spoke boldly of accomplishment and respect.
Though recognized as instrumental to the creation of Canada, in recent years Macdonald has been criticized for his role in the nation’s mistreatment of Indigenous peoples.