The Lost Murals Of The King Edward Hotel

 

Before The King Edward Hotel in downtown Toronto was renovated in 1981, thousands of visitors were greeted by magnificent displays of colorful and dramatic art-murals in the lobby. 

When the hotel opened in 1903 as Toronto’s first luxury hotel, the Edwardian-style of opulence and grandeur was adopted by the hotel with four, life-sized paintings of early Canadian history scenes adorning the lobby walls – painted by renowned American artist William de Leftwich Dodge.

A panorama of French fur traders, First Nations Peoples, the early exploration of North America for England by John Cabot, and General Wolfe’s victory on the Plains of Abraham were all part of the original four early-twentieth century romantic-realism style murals.

Interestingly, this last mural mentioned was the cause of much disagreement between the American mural artist Dodge and the Toronto-based hotel architect E.J. Lennox. 

The dispute was not because of the subject matter, but because of its design. Lennox argued that this particular mural was too dark, gloomy and big for the space over the hotel’s original elevators (now the entrance way to the hotel’s Consort Bar) beside the Grand Staircase. Dodge would not be persuaded to alter his “artistic-license” – even taking the matter to an American court and winning his case. However, the artist’s Canadian employer disregarded the ruling – and ultimately replaced Dodge’s mural of General Wolfe with another painting by well-known Canadian muralist Frederick Challener.

This new mural was titled Trading at Fort Rouillé and depicted part of Toronto’s own early history with the French Fort Rouillé being established for trade with the First Nations before the British established the town of York – that later became Toronto.

(Challener’s mural Trading at Fort Rouillé above previous elevators)

(The entrance to the Consort Bar and Grand Staircase today)

Dodge’s other three remaining murals depicted young French women sent to Quebec by Louis XIV as wives for soldiers, traders, and other settlers (over the main desk); the 1497 landing of John Cabot in Canada’s Newfoundland; and First Nations Peoples protesting the invasion of both French and English settlers.

Unfortunately, all of these treasured works of art have been lost – either taken down or covered over by the current wood-panels that are now on the lobby walls as part of the renovation in the early 1980s.  No one is quite sure what happened to them or the condition they may be in if uncovered today.

(The King Edward Hotel Front Desk and current wood panels today)

Despite the loss, the King Edward Hotel lobby still remains a regal work of color and artistry for guests, and the hotel remains a place of regal luxury and grandeur.  Sadly – the lost murals of the hotel are royal treasures that may never be fully recovered.