H 147.32 cm x W 115.57 cm x D 15.24 cm
A 3/4 length portrait of John Creighton standing against a table/desk. The figure stands obliquely to the front of the picture plane, his left shoulder innermost, and leaning slightly on his right elbow on the table/desk by his side. In his right hand he grasps a rolled document, holding it at about waist height; his left hand is tucked into the front of his coat at mid-chest height. The subject has grey eyes, medium brown receding hair brushed back from his face, and mutton-chop sideburns and beard (no moustache, and a clean-shaven chin). He is wearing a black topcoat, black waistcoat, dark trousers, a white shirt with a stand-up collar, and a black stock. In the background to the right are architectural mouldings, and behind the figure is dark red drapery. The painting is signed "W. Sawyer. 1865." in brown paint in the lower right 1/4 of the composition.
The painting is housed in a mid 19th century gilt wood and plaster frame. Plain curving back edge, acanthus and plain scotia outer edge; acanthus and scrollwork corners with foliate extensions on plain swept rail, acanthus and scrollwork side centres, tall, pointed acanthus and scrollwork top centre; ribbon and reel, astragal, tongue and dart, narrow scotia sight edge.
Born in Northern Ireland and raised and educated in Kingston, Creighton was a printer, newspaper manager, book seller, publisher, police magistrate and penitentiary warden. Committed to community well-being, as mayor he enlarged City Park and improved sanitary conditions of the public market place, rebuilt the market wing and added the clock to the dome of City Hall after the fire of 1865. Creighton is noted as Kingston Penitentiary’s most respected and humane warden. The house that Creighton built for his family is now the home of Canada’s Penitentiary Museum.
