Childhood Revisited

vernamclean
Jan 15
2 min read

January 12, 2026

The enjoyment of researching Clara’s legacy is never knowing what’s coming next. And as familiar as I am with Clara’s painting sites and work, and just when I think I’ve exhausted the “supply”, a new, shiny piece comes my way.

Recently Harold W. contacted me:

Hi Verna,

You have a very nice website devoted to Clara Harris paintings; I enjoyed looking through it.

I know of a couple of Harris paintings which originally belonged to my late in-laws in Etobicoke ON. One is a winter scene near the Humber River in Toronto which has migrated to Regina SK, as that is where my wife and I live.

Humber River Winter Scene 16 x20”

The back/left of the painting has a faint inscription:

"Edenbridge Hill from James Estate looking east over the Humber Valley, Feb 1949."

Humber River- back of painting left side

The James Estate presumably refers to what is now James Gardens, a public park along the Humber River. And Edenbridge-Humber Valley is a neighbourhood on the east side of Etobicoke.

Humber River-Back of painting right side

The back/right of the painting is labelled with:

"Clara Harris

23 Valleyview Gdns

LY 7496"

Harold, your painting made me nostalgic: My parents, like the people in the scene, cross country skied in the James Gardens area and as a small child we walked through James Gardens. Of course, suburban development has altered this area substantially.

Some collectors like Clara's snow scenes the best and your snow scene is a beauty! The impasto adds so much dimension and light to the painting. It would have been a perfect fit for the 2017 Doors Open exhibit “Captured on Canvas” at Lambton house https://www.lambtonhouse.org and Montgomery’s Inn https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/history-art-culture/museums/montgomerys-inn/

The other is a still life which is still in Etobicoke hanging in the home of my sister-in-law. The dimensions are approximately 25.5 x 27.25”. There is not much information on the back of the painting; a fragment of a back label seems to indicate "1935".