O-8390

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painting (portrait)

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The Right Honourable Paul Martin

Portrait of Prime Minister Paul Martin

Paul Martin was born in Windsor, Ontario in 1938, the son of long-time Liberal member of Parliament and cabinet minister Paul Martin Sr. Martin, the son, was a lawyer and president of Canadian Steamship Lines when he was elected MP in the Montreal riding of LaSalle-Émard. He was appointed Finance minister by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, despite deep tensions between the two men. As Chrétien’s successor, Martin legalized same-sex marriage and passed the Kelowna Accord on Indigenous living conditions.

Ontario artist Paul Wyse’s high-realist official portrait set Martin in the Commons chamber in traditional business suit and Liberal red tie, his gaze distant in thought.

Paul Wyse

Osgoode, Ontario artist Paul Wyse’s commissions include a custom Steinway piano, on which he recreated the original paintings by Viktor Hartmann that inspired Mussorgsky’s piano suite Pictures At An Exhibition. Wyse himself is a world-class pianist, and has performed in august venues such as Avery Fischer Hall, home of the New York Philharmonic, and Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center. His eclectic list of portrait subjects includes Prime Minister Paul Martin and House Speaker Peter Milliken, any many others including author Toni Morrison and pop star Billy Joel.