Image of murals depicting various events in the B.C.'s history

Labour

Justice


Image of murals depicting various events in the B.C.'s history

Enterprise

Courage

History of the Murals


Historical portrait and landscape artist George Southwell painted the four murals between 1933 and 1935.

The murals depict various events in the province’s history and were intended to reflect qualities necessary to establish a pioneer society – labour, justice, enterprise and courage.

  • Labour: The building of Fort Victoria in 1843. (Also described as the building of Fort Langley [1820s])

  • Justice: Colonial Chief Justice Sir Matthew Baillie Begbie in Clinton (early 1860s)

  • Enterprise: Hudson’s Bay Company Chief Factor, James Douglas, landing at Clover Point to select the site for Fort Victoria in 1842.

  • Courage: The meeting of Captains Vancouver and Quadra at Nootka Sound in 1792.

    • Murals in the B.C. Legislature Lower Rotunda