Henderson painted a number of portraits that were customarily referred to in the press as “Indian Madonna’s.” Many of these were based on Eliza Ryder and her child who appear in many photographs and poses in or outside of Henderson’s studio, including one posed in front of a finished canvas. Another is gridded off in pencil, indicating his working process from photograph to small studio study, to larger finished canvases. Portrait of Eliza Ryder and Child, 1930, is identical in pose, facial expressions of mother and child and clothing to this photograph. Henderson creates a harmony between landscape and figures in this work by placing Eliza and her child close to the picture plane in front of a Qu’Appelle landscape of valley and high hills that echo the curving forms of the figures. He did not paint many portraits in a landscape setting and the later date of this may indicate his increasing concern with the landscape of Qu’Appelle and less with that of portraiture.
-Dan Ring
James Henderson
Portrait of Eliza Rider and Child (Dakota), 1930
oil on canvas
77.0 x 61.0 cm
University of Saskatchewan Art Collection, purchased from the artist, 1930.
James Henderson
Eliza Rider and Child in Henderson Studio, c. 1930
vintage gelatin silver print on paper
14.7 x 8.7 cm
Collection of the MacKenzie Art Gallery.
James Henderson
Female Indian Head (Eliza Rider), c. 1930
oil on cardboard
25.4 x 20.3 cm
Collection of the MacKenzie Art Gallery, University of Regina Collection. Gift of Mr. Norman MacKenzie.
James Henderson
Indian Baby Head (Eliza Rider’s child), c. 1930
oil on cardboard
25.4 x 20.3 cm
Collection of the MacKenzie Art Gallery, University of Regina Collection. Gift of Mr. Norman MacKenzie.
I was very excited when I came across this picture, it is my grandmother, her husband’s name was Joe Dick Rider and my father’s name was Clarence. Is there any chance of me viewing more photos? Please make it possible, Thank you..
Thank you for your note it is exciting that you have “found” your grandmother in the Henderson exhibition. Most of the photographs of Eliza are in the exhibition. She was one of the people who was most documented in Henderson’s collection of photographs and, it seems, was one of his favourite models. If you have stories about your grandmother and her child in this painting and are agreeable to telling them to us we may be able to interview you (see my email for more details). Thanks so much for your interest in this project.
-Dan Ring