Back to SearchA rare piece of the City of Prince Albert’s Public Art Collection has been restored and is once again on display in Prince Albert’s Council Chamber at City Hall. The painting of Sir John Simpson on His Tour of Inspection from the Hudson’s Bay to the Pacific Coast was done by American born British artist, Cyrus Cincinnati Cuneo.
The oil on canvas painting, dating from the early 1900’s, was commissioned for the Canadian Pacific Railway. Many of these paintings were destroyed when the CPR’s offices suffered a fire in 1940 making it a unique and rare historic Canadian painting. The painting was originally a gift from the CPR to the City of Prince Albert in the province of Saskatchewan.
This is the first conservation project of the Prince Albert Public Art Working Group who recommended the expenditure of $33,000 to restore the painting which was in poor condition after years of inattention.
“The Cuneo painting is a significant piece of art that has hung in the Council Chamber for decades. It’s a major public art asset now worth as much as $80,000,” said Judy MacLeod Campbell, Arts and Culture Coordinator for the City. “When the Public Art Working Group developed a multi-year public art plan, a condition report of the existing public art was completed and upon examining options for one of its first major projects, this stood out as a priority. It’s important to take care of the assets we have before acquiring new ones.”
The painting was restored by Fraser / Spafford Ricci Art & Archival Conservation Inc. in South Surrey BC. In addition to removing dust, dirt and varnish from the painting, previous restoration were cleaned off, abrasions repaired and the canvas given a supportive lining and re-stretched onto a stronger custom-made stretcher. Fraser / Spafford Ricci provided almost one third of the project in kind. The owner, Sarah Spafford-Ricci, grew up in Saskatoon. Her grandfather, mother and aunt (Ah, Margaret and Shirley King) resided in Prince Albert.
“The restoration of this piece of art was a meticulous process and we are thankful we were able to arrange for such quality care,” added MacLeod Campbell. “There is a visible difference in the painting and it is now in a condition that will ensure it’s longevity for many years to come.”
Created in 2016, Prince Albert’s Public Art Working Group guides the implementation of a public art plan in Prince Albert and prioritizes projects in accordance with the City’s Public Art Policy. Recent projects include temporary cross walk art, decommissioning of the Eaglechild totem pole on the riverbank, and a complete inventory and condition assessment of Prince Albert’s existing public art.
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Judy MacLeod-Campbell
Arts and Culture Coordinator
(306) 953-4825
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