From the Archives
Learn about key artists and works of art in the Gallery collection with NGC Educator Béatrice Djahanbin, then create your own versions of these iconic works with our downloadable colouring sheets.
Piero di Cosimo
Vulcan and Aeolus, c. 1490
Piero di Cosimo painted Vulcan and Aeolus around 1490, during the Italian Renaissance. Like other artists of his time, Piero was interested in ancient Greek mythology and new artistic styles and techniques. Discover this masterpiece in fascinating detail in this video.
Download the printable PDF colouring page.
Ganesha Dancing, late 9th or 10th Century, India
Ganesha Dancing was carved in India over one thousand years ago. Ganesha, the Hindu god of wisdom, the arts, and new beginnings, sways joyfully in this masterful sculpture. Find out more in this video.
Jackoposie Oopakak
Nunali, c. 1988-1989
Jackoposie Oopakak carved Nunali in the late 1980s. Traditional Inuit imagery and modern high-precision tools combine to depict an entire arctic worldview on a set of antlers. Find out more about this extraordinary sculpture in this video.
Benjamin West
The Death of General Wolfe, 1770
Benjamin West's painting The Death of General Wolfe, created in 1770, quickly became one of the most reproduced images of its time. What made this painting such a sensation? Find the answer in this video.
Robert Harris
A Meeting of the School Trustees, 1885
A Meeting of the School Trustees, one of the first works acquired by the National Gallery of Canada, has been fascinating visitors and art lovers for decades. Delve into Robert Harris’ painting with NGC Educator Béatrice Djahanbin.
Then listen to Tasia Bulger Assistant Conservator of Paintings, as she talks about the discoveries she made while restoring the work in 2016.
Download the printable PDF colouring page.
Vincent Van Gogh
Iris, 1890
Vincent Van Gogh painted Iris during a self-imposed stay at the Saint-Rémy asylum in 1890. How could he create such a joyful work under such trying circumstances? Find the answer in this video.
Emily Carr
Fir Tree and Sky, c. 1935-1936
Emily Carr painted Fir Tree and Sky in the mid-1930s. She used a modern painting style to search for spirituality in nature, and found it here in rhythmic patterns. Learn more about this extraordinary painting in this video.
Download the printable PDF colouring page.