Kingston, Ontario: Through an Artist’s Eyes
As with many historical cities, the city of Kingston has become recognizable to tourists from far and wide, partially through its distinctive waterfront landscape. Today, City Hall, Fort Henry, the Martello Towers and the convergence of the St. Lawrence, Rideau Canal and Lake Ontario allow Kingston to stand out from other waterfront towns – but what if you saw an image from the early 1840s? Would you still be able to recognize Kingston then?
Around 1841, British-born artist William Henry Bartlett embarked on an expedition to Canada, his second time visiting North America after journeying to the United States. An international traveller and talented landscape artist, Bartlett was often commissioned by printing companies from England to draw towns and the countryside from his inquisitive perspective. The beginning of Bartlett’s published career as a commissioned artist began with his work in Switzerland Illustrated, published by George Virtue in 1836 (Ross). Pleased with the artistry and works supplied by Bartlett, Virtue recommissioned the artist for several other expeditions extending beyond European borders and into North America and even the Middle East (Ross). On these journeys, Bartlett would travel to communities and across terrains, creating works to be published alongside detailed histories of each community.
The work “Kingston: Lake Ontario” by William Henry Bartlett is guessed to have been created in the years leading up to 1840, and the image first appeared in Canadian scenery illustrated (1842) following Bartlett’s journey through Upper and Lower Canada. The original sketch would have been drawn in black and white using a sepia wash (watercolour painting and ink drawings on paper). After travelling and sketching the geographical landmarks of British North America, Bartlett would return home and distribute his various etchings to engravers. These engravers, who worked with steel, paid special attention to detail so that the work could be easily reproduced into prints. Bartlett’s original works were created the exact size of the engraving to ensure that no detail would be missed – once finished, prints of Bartlett’s work could be created, sold, and circulated throughout England. Although no original drawings are known to remain today, prints made from the engravings have been heavily circulated, as demonstrated through Murney Tower Museum’s acquisition of this Bartlett print.
Art historians admire Bartlett for his careful attention to detail. It has been noted that “Bartlett was faithful to his original scenes, and had the training, interest and ability to capture the spirit and detail of the architecture of the landscape,” (Jones, 258). Indeed, this print of Kingston exemplifies the curious mind of Bartlett and his skilled ability to capture the “spirit” of this military town. The work includes depictions of Fort Henry (middle left), Fort Frederick and what was once the Royal Naval Dockyard (middle) - and the increasingly developed city centre is an unmissable backdrop. These distinctive landmarks, although changed, are still an important part of Kingston’s identity. Although all of Bartlett’s prints were redistributed in black and white, it was common for colour to be added afterwards. Murney Tower’s print of Bartlett’s Kingston incorporates the iconic and unmissable red jackets of the Fort Henry Guard, still worn in recreations today. Similarly, the presence of ships and vessels which subtly populate Lake Ontario and the Cataraqui River pay homage to Kingston’s consistent and lively marine history. Once a major commercial trading centre, Kingston’s waterfront has evolved to support the leisure-oriented boaters and is a popular site for Ontarian and American visitors each summer.
Murney Tower Museum is very fortunate and grateful for the donation of this piece, given to us by Marjan Mozetich. Now one of many artifacts in our General Collection, this William Henry Bartlett piece allows us to understand Kingston’s landscape through the eyes of a visitor in the 1800s. It represents the values of our community and reflects the military history which Murney Tower is so actively a part of.
Bibliography
Jones, Elwood. “William Henry Bartlett: Artist, Author, and Traveller, containing a reprint of Dr. William Beattie’s Brief Memoir of the Late William Henry Bartlett by Alexander M. Ross”in The Canadian History Review, 56, no 4, December 1975: pp.458-459 (Review).
Ross, Alexander M. “Bartlett, William Henry.” In Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol.8, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003, accessed May 11, 2021. http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/bartlett_william_henry_8E.html.