A Champion Represented in a Magnificent Scenery

Few works are attributed to Robert Clow Todd, and the most important among them are held in major Quebec and Canadian museums. Moreover, his paintings very rarely appear for sale at auction. The MMFA is therefore very proud to announce its recent acquisition of one of his iconic works, Corbeau at Montmorency Falls.

Born in England, Robert Clow Todd settled in the town of Montmorency, on the outskirts of Quebec City, in 1833. Like other artists of his day, whose training remains unknown, he progressively evolved from the status of “House, Sign, Carriage and Ornamental Painter,”¹ to that of easel artist. He even opened a drawing and painting school in 1842. An auction of his works before he moved to Toronto some twenty years after immigrating to Canada reveals the vastness of his output: for sale were 25 of his paintings, essentially copies, but also two depictions of Montmorency Falls. The mounting competition brought on by the new arrival of artist Cornelius Krieghoff would eventually see Todd fade from the Quebec market. He was not known to have made other paintings after this time.

Corbeau at Montmorency Falls (along with at least three other of his works) attests to the ties Todd had with Scotland native Allan Gilmour, one of the most prosperous timber merchants, builders and shipowners in Canadian history. Gilmour first commissioned Todd to make two paintings of his shipyard at Wolfe’s Cove, in Quebec City, which the artist executed in 1840.

Then, in 1845, after Gilmour’s trotting horse Corbeau won a race in La Prairie against the favoured American horse, Dread, Todd immortalized the majestic beast against the backdrop of the Saint Lawrence River.

An article published on March 19, 1845, in the column Montreal Courier noted that the race took place on ice.² As we can see, this is also the case in our painting. In creating the painting, in which we see Corbeau charging ahead in a race he is about to win, the artist was no doubt instructed to choose the most powerful background possible. The Montmorency Falls in winter – considered a hallmark of the Quebec landscape – augments the nobility of the composition. Corbeau, recognizable for his shiny black coat that inspired his name, also bears a white marking on his nose. This detail, expressly highlighted by Todd, made it impossible to confuse the horse with any other.

Corbeau and his driver are placed in the centre of the composition, like the falls themselves. They are framed on the left by a man holding a red flag at the finish line and, on the right, by spectators who appear to be cheering their clear victory, not another sleigh in sight.

This subject – notables out for a sleigh ride led by their most beautiful horses in front of the column of ice formed by the Montmorency Falls – was one the artist would repeat at least three or four times in similar, yet distinct, compositions. Ours is nonetheless the only one picturing Corbeau foregrounded by a block of ice inscribed with the horse’s name and the date of the painting’s completion. Todd’s signature can be seen to the right of this.

Corbeau at Montmorency Falls will be on view at the Museum this fall, among other recent acquisitions. Stay tuned for more information in upcoming editions of the M Webzine!