Calgary in the Foothills, 1951 from Seagram’s Cities of Canada

A.C. Leighton, Calgary in the Foothills, 1951, oil on canvas

Commissioned by the Seagram Company to complete a painting of Calgary, A.C. chose to paint the city at sunrise. He woke early each morning to capture the brief time in which Calgary was bathed in the golden light of dawn. Waking early to capture the perfect light proved to be a demanding task. Upon finishing the painting, A.C. was exhausted and decided that he and Barbara must return to England immediately so that he could recover. She left the unwashed dishes in the sink and the couple departed. They ended up settling in Ireland and only returned to Calgary three years later.