Henderson’s ambition for a commission of Indigenous portraits like Morris’ was realized in 1925, when the University of Saskatchewan commissioned him to “paint twelve studies of Indians from the various tribes in Saskatchewan and Alberta. This idea had first been considered in 1924, when the President, the late Dr. W. C. Murray, President thought that the series would be an important parallel to the work done by Paul Kane.”
Robert Phillips speaks about Paul Kane
While only nine were purchased, this commission was a major milestone for Henderson financially. Norman Mackenzie was a keen advocate of this commission and in a three page letter to Henderson of August 7, 1925, outlines why he has collected Henderson’s portraits documenting the, “aristocrats of the America,” and that “Dr. Murray is in sympathy with all my ideas expressed above.” He continues that, “I know of no idea he could carry out to afford more interest to the future generation than to establish in the University the best collection of Indian portraits.” Murray had already purchased a number of Henderson’s landscapes including Coulee Trail, Morning Sunshine, and Opening Water, for the University in 1924, and had already been discussing the possibility of a portrait commission with Murray. Henderson enclosed Mackenzie’s letter when he wrote Murray on August 24, 1925, proposing “ how would it do if the University gave me a commission or contract to paint twelve Indian portraits or studies approved by a committee appointed by you and that these be delivered within two or three years from the date of the contract –say two years- the price for the twelve to be $3,000 exclusive of visiting such points as would be agreed on between us.”
