Joanne Tod (b. 1953) is a renowned Canadian painter acclaimed for her unwavering approach to realism, technical precision, and critical wit. She is also one of the country's most celebrated living portrait artists.
Tod has frequently depicted institutional buildings such as banks, museums, and post offices to explore the architecture of authority and trust. These essential urban institutions shape our lives whether we acknowledge them or not. In her paintings, decorative elements such as columns and classical façades convey importance and permanence, while demanding our respect or even dependence. Tod highlights the aesthetic characteristics of these edifices, showing how power can be conveyed through beauty and awe.
This painting depicts the grand foyer of the Montreal headquarters for the Bank of Montreal, or BMO. It is one of the key landmarked buildings of Place d'Armes. Located at 119 Rue Saint-Jacques, this building has been an iconic landmark since 1819. Constructed in a neoclassical style, the structure was inspired by the Roman Pantheon. The lavish lobby features 32 corinthian columns made with green syenite, gold capitals, and a decorated coffered ceiling. Tod visited the building to attend the unveiling of a portrait she was commissioned to paint of the departing CEO, William Downe.
Tod captures the ornate features of the historic building in "La Banque" in her signature brand of realism. There is both a precision and softness in her approach. One of Tod's painting strategies is applying thin layers of paint to emphasize and illuminate the brighter hues. While her treatment of light is typically attentive, it's emphasized in this canvas given the numerous light sources and almost entirely reflective surfaces. This painting is a paradigm of Todâs ability to amplify interiors into charged, almost theatrical settings or portals. For Tod, portraying deep space is as much an entity as a subject sitting for a portrait.
Tod is originally from Montreal, so her Place d'Armes have a special resonance for her. See another painting from the series here.Â
Joanne Tod's works can be found in most major public institutions across Canada, including the National Gallery of Canada, the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), and the MusĂ©e des beaux-arts de MontrĂ©al.Â
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"La Banque"
Canada, 2025
Oil on canvas
72"H 54"W
Signed, titled, and dated, verso
Very good condition
Note: The price is $75,000 CAD
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