A staff member at the downtown Ottawa hotel discovered Friday night that the portrait hanging on the wall was a copy, not the original installed in 1998, when they noticed its frame didn’t match those of five other portraits in the room that were also shot by photographer Yousuf Karsh. Kars, one of the most famous portrait photographers of the 20th century, took the photo in 1941 when the then British Prime Minister was in Ottawa to address Parliament during World War II. Jerry Fielder, Kars’ property manager, received a call from the general manager of Château Laurier on Saturday. With his help they were able to determine that what was currently hanging in the hotel was a fake. The work that was supposed to be there was made from the negative and signed by Karsh, but Fielder, who was first hired by Karsh as an assistant in 1979, asked to be sent a copy of the signature on that piece and said that he knew right away it was fake.
“It wasn’t his signature,” Fielder said. The hotel then contacted Ottawa police, who told the CBC they are investigating the possible theft. Michel Prévost, president of La Société d’histoire de l’Outaouais, said he did not know how much the portrait was worth, but that prints of Karsh’s work are not allowed since his negatives were given to Library and Archives Canada in the 1990s. “It’s like a movie,” Prevost said. “Famous hotel, and you have the security. And one of the most valuable portraits in your collection has been stolen.”

The story of Karsh at Château Laurier

Kars had a long history with the hotel — he and his first wife lived there for 18 years, and he had his studio in the building until 1992, Prevost said. The hotel says it has 15 original works, six of which, including the Churchill portrait, were in the lounge. The remaining five were recently removed until they can be properly secured, according to a statement from the Fairmont hotel. “We are deeply saddened by this brazen act. The hotel is incredibly proud to host this amazing Karsh collection, which was safely installed in 1998,” the statement said. Portrait photographer Yousuf Karsh is seen in his Ottawa studio with an exhibit he created for Queen Elizabeth in this Dec. 21, 1988 photo. (Ron Poling/The Canadian Press)

The uncertain future of the roaring lion

Karsh, originally from Armenia, made Ottawa his home from 1924 to the 1990s. He photographed 14,312 people in his career, according to Fielder, who says this portrait of Churchill launched him onto the international stage . Fielder says the photo, known as The Roaring Lion, changed Karsh’s life and has a lasting legacy – it’s still the image on the Bank of England’s £5 note. Part of the appeal may be the story behind the photo shoot. Churchill didn’t want his picture taken, but he allowed Kars one. To make the most of the shot, Kars pulled the cigar from Churchill’s lips and caught him glowing. “Then he said, ‘You can have one more.’ And then he was smiling and looking very kind. But it’s The Roaring Lion photo that became world famous,” Fielder said. “It was a very uncertain time in Canada, the United States and the world, and I think the portrait shows determination and strength. I think it gave people some courage.” The fate of The Roaring Lion photograph is uncertain, as it could have been lost at any time in the nearly quarter century since it was posted. The removal of the prototype and its replacement “was obviously thought out and planned”. Fielder said. “I’d like them to return it, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.” For Prevost, the missing art reminds him of a mystery art heist in a movie, and in this case he doesn’t know how the story will end. “I don’t know if Château Laurier will get a call asking $5 million for the portrait. It might as well be in the collection of a Sir Winston Churchill fan,” Prévost said. “As a historian, I can talk about the past. I can’t talk about the future.”