Gift of Clara Harris Painting

On October 4, 2012 I was contacted by Laurie about Clara Harris. This is what she had to say: "I looked up the signature on a painting that I have had for about 17 years. I bought it in an antique store in Tilbury, Ontario, for $25.00. I liked it because it reminded me of the work of Ivan Scott. He told me he knew members of the Group of Seven when he was young - I believe he was in his seventies when I knew him in the late 1960s. I was surprised & happy to find your website about Clara Harris & her work. I looked at the spring pictures on your website & found one that looks very similar to the one I have."

"It is titled Spring on the Humber River. Did she paint scenes more than once? If you could give me any information about the painting, I would very much appreciate it. If you think it is genuine, I would very much like to give it to you. You are doing such a wonderful service with this website, and I think it would have a great home with you. It has been sitting in a closet for ten years and I think it deserves to be loved again”. Looking at the photos that Laurie sent, the signature, painting style, subject matter and canvas are in keeping with Clara’s work. So another Clara Harris painting is added to the collection for viewers to appreciate. Thank you Laurie. Laurie asks a good question, “Did Clara paint scenes more than once?” The answer is definitely “yes”. When plein-air artists found an interesting place to paint, they would visit it multiple times: interpreting the scene on that particular day. Clara’s husband, Fred, described this in his diary:

March 8, 1938 – white pine grove at Thistletown – new place to sketch – good.

March 28, 1938 – Sketch at Thistletown.