Graduate Self-Portraits
From the late 1940s until the mid 1960s, Mount Allison University students in Fine Arts were required to paint a self-portrait in their 4th year, and to submit it as their “Diploma Piece” in order to receive the Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. The portraits were to be executed in oil, on canvas or board, measuring 30” x 40”, and were to be Life-sized. The portraits remained as an important Archive of the Fine Arts Department, and are now permanently housed in the Owens Art Gallery. The collection consists of approximately 50 paintings.
Each year, in celebration of Spring Convocation and Alumni Reunion Weekend, we display self-portraits from those alumni years being honoured.
This year, we present selections from the Classes of 1949, 1954, 1964 and 1989. Included with this year’s graduate self-portraits is the student photo portfolio from the class of 1989 by Mount Allison Alumna, Irene MacKinnon.
