The Recovery of Yousuf Karsh’s Iconic Churchill Portrait at Fairmont Château Laurier

Art and History at the Fairmont Château Laurier

Like many residents and visitors in Ottawa, I made a point to stop by the lounge just off the lobby of the iconic Fairmont Château Laurier. It was an opportunity to admire the remarkable collection of portraits that adorned the walls. These portraits featured a diverse array of prominent figures, including celebrated Canadians such as Jean Paul Riopelle and Stephen Leacock, alongside global luminaries like Albert Einstein and Georgia O’Keeffe. What makes these images even more significant is that they were all captured by the renowned photographer Yousuf Karsh, who not only lived in the hotel but also maintained his studio within its walls.

Among these striking black-and-white photographs, the most famous is undoubtedly the one of a scowling Winston Churchill, taken during his visit to Ottawa in the midst of World War II. This particular portrait garnered renewed attention recently when it was revealed that it had been stolen over two years ago from the lounge. Fortunately, the Ottawa Police Service announced the exciting news that the portrait had been recovered in Italy, and an officer was soon set to travel to Rome to bring it back home. Read: A Famous Churchill Portrait, Stolen in Canada and Found in Italy

While many details surrounding the theft are still pending in court, the circumstances of the crime are quite intriguing. As I highlighted in my article about its recovery, the perpetrator managed to circumvent international watch lists of stolen artworks by cleverly delaying the discovery of the theft. They replaced the original portrait with a low-quality inkjet print, which was hastily hung in its place. This eight-month delay between the theft in early 2022 and its eventual uncovering allowed the thief to sell the genuine portrait through a Sotheby’s auction in London.

During the chaotic days of the trucker convoy that paralyzed Ottawa for much of February 2022, I discovered that Karsh’s former apartment had been transformed into a suite primarily used by visiting dignitaries. However, his beloved studio had unfortunately been subdivided into several smaller rooms, losing much of its original charm.