A portrait of artist Victor Long (1866 - 1938)

© 2013, Christian Cassidy (Updated 2025)

Source: City of Winnipeg Archives

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the death of artist Victor Albert Long. I first came across his name while researching the Carnegie portrait that hangs in the Millennium Library.

Long was one of Winnipeg's most prolific painters and was said to be the first artist in town to earn a living solely from his work.

In a career that spanned 50 years, he left a body of work that includes portraits of many of the West's first public officials.

November 24, 1888, Winnipeg Free Press

Victor Arthur Long was born in 1866 in Fort Erie, Ontario. His interest in art took him briefly to New York and then on a four-year visit to Europe (Dublin, Munich and Paris). A Vancouver newspaper later said that, “He was there at the Beaux Arts and the Julien Schools under Cabanel, Jerome, and Tony Robert Fleury.” (source)

Long returned to Canada in 1887 and soon moved to Winnipeg, where he opened a studio on Main Street, usually renting space from an existing art shop or gallery. He specialized in oil portraits and would paint for anyone, regardless of status. Very soon, he was able to live on his income as an artist.

Despite being a good self-promoter, he let his art do the talking. Newspaper articles from the day that mention Long's works do not go into his beliefs or personal life.

April 27, 1896, Manitoba Free Press

For his first few years in Winnipeg, Long can be found in the odd street directory living in hotels such as the Leland House on William Avenue. This was a perfectly acceptable living arrangement for bachelors at the time, especially ones who travelled for their work, such as Long with his summer train trips across the prairies seeking commissions.. 

A 1970 Free Press article by Nan Shipley about Long notes that, "Those who knew the artist describe him as a tall, erect man of impeccable dress and gentlemanly manners." Gordon Smith, a Winnipeg art dealer, recalled in a Winnipeg Tribune article from 1970, that, "He was tall, fine looking, a regular tailor's model, but he refused interviews, any press notice or complement of any kind."

The only hint of Long's family comes in a brief notice from Portage la Prairie in the Free Press in 1895. It mentioned that he was in town to collect commissions, visit his half-brother Charles H. Fox, his mother, Mrs. Fox, and his sister, Miss Fox. His brother and mother came in from the east and Miss Fox may have lived in Portage.

For more Long paintings in Winnipeg

It did not take long for Long to become a favoured artist in the city.Still, to make a full-time living from his work, he needed to keep the commissions rolling in. 

Long would enter at least one painting in the public art show at the Provincial Exhibition each year. In the 1900 edition, his work was displayed with 66 others from artists across Canada. His work, a portrait of Rev. Dr. Robertson, was chosen by public ballot as the most popular. He often won top or second prize year after year.

Another promotional trick Long had was to display portraits, be they commissioned or private works, of well-known people in a shop window on Main Street. These drew crowds and often got him mentioned in the local newspapers.

The largest clients of Long were city and provincial governments.

Early in his career, he began painting head-and-shoulder portraits of Winnipeg's past mayors to hang in city hall. It took him a few years to catch up, with a large commission to finish all of the past mayors in 1902. He then painted each mayor as they left office. (For examples, see my Flickr album of Long.)

Long did the same with speakers of the Manitoba legislature in three-quarter-length portraits. He began with individual paintings then in 1915 the provincial library committee authorised an $8,000 payment for portraits of the King and Queen, nine past speakers, and a war scene. (For examples, see my Flickr album of Long.)

Thanks to his annual train trips out West each summer, Long did similar portraits for several cities and legislatures.

These government commissions often led to other work, such as painting Kings and Queens for their chambers on conference rooms.

One example was a new portrait of Queen Victoria in 1897 to hang in the main lobby of the old "gingerbread" Winnipeg city hall to celebrate her diamond jubilee. Long confused councillors by not providing a contemporary image of the 78-year-old monarch. The Free Press noted: “The portrait, as the city's contract called for, shows Her Majesty in the 55th year of her age, and not as she is at present”.

September 30, 1905, Winnipeg Tribune

Long sometimes ruffled feathers with an 'ambush' technique he sometimes used to sell his paintings to the city.

In 1901, before a Royal visit by the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall & York (later King George V and Queen Mary), Long unveiled before city council an uncommissioned portrait of King George VII, the Duke's father, to present to the Duke. The price tag was $300.

Some councillors were not pleased with the tactic, but he got his money. At the welcoming ceremony at city hall, Long himself presented the Duke and Duchess with the portrait.

A similar move was used in 1905 before the opening of the new Carnegie Library on William Avenue.

Long showed up at city hall with a larger-than-life portrait of Andrew Carnegie and asked council to pay $600 for the work to adorn the wall of the building. It caused a heated debate at the finance committee that lasted for 45 minutes, but in the end it was bought for $550. 

1906 census of Canada

A big change came for Long, age 35, when he married Alexandra Anderson Hughes in 1902. A congratulatory paragraph in a June 1901 Tribune article described her as an "accomplished young widow", though she was only two years his junior.)

Alexandra was born in Scotland and came to Canada with her family in her early teens. Being widowed explains why the Longs have a 12-year-old daughter just four years after their marriage i n the above census record. They had a son, Jack, of their own.

The 1906 census shows the new family living in a residential unit in the mixed-use Steele Block, which once stood at 364 Portage Avenue where the Manitoba Hydro tower is now.

February 28, 1919. Winnipeg Free Press

The Longs relocated to the Vancouver area in 1910, where he established a studio and continued to paint portraits. A 1919 Vancouver Province newspaper article mentioned that he had a combined home and studio on Twelfth Avenue.

Long continued his practice of taking the train across the prairies each summer to collect photos or sketch out new commissions that he would take back to his studio to paint. His last stop would be Winnipeg, where he usually rented a room at the Hotel Fort Garry for a few days.

As can be seen in the list of works below, his relocation did not impact his popularity in Winnipeg. He even continued his Winnipeg mayors and Manitoba speakers series well into the 1920s.

December 20, 1938, Vancouver Sun

Victor Albert Long died on December 18, 1938, at the age of 74, in his rented room on West Georgia Street in Vancouver (now demolished). He was interred at Ocean View Burial Park in Burnaby, B. C..

Long's landlady told the Vancouver Sun that he was “... a happy sort of man, always cheerful, in spite of the fact that his circumstances were not what they used to be.” She confirmed that he was still working on paintings at the time of his death.

A Vancouver Sun article noted that his wife and son lived separately from him in Vancouver, which is what the landlady might have been referring to, and that he had a sister, Mrs. Garland (presumably the former Miss Fox), in Winnipeg. There was no mention of his step-daughter.

A Winnipeg Free Press editorial of December 22, 1970, said Long was, "...a professional artist and proud of it. Artist Long was a true Winnipeg old-timer, one of the most likeable of men and that also probably went far in getting him portrait commissions....  Artists of that day, who were more ostentatiously aesthetic and less frankly professional, often rumbled in their throats because Vic Long inevitably landed all the important commissions in the portrait line."

December 22, 1938, Winnipeg Free Press

As for Victor Long's legacy, attitudes shifted over time.

During his life and for a time after his passing, people remembered the genial man and his skill at capturing a likeness. This talent was appreciated by those who knew and worked with his subjects. It was also a treat for the public to view the detailed, coloured faces and regalia of people they may only have seen through grainy black-and-white images or sketches reproduced in newspapers. 

By the time of the 1970 exhibition of his works in Winnipeg, which you will read more about below, there was no "wow" factor left. His subjects were, for the most part, old forgotten men from a bygone era.  

Long's work was politely described in one publication as "accurate and pleasing". Art critic John W. Graham wrote in a Free Press article entitled "Mundane but Relevant" that Long's collection of works were "faithful and accurate recordings of dignitaries and prime movers" from the first half of the century" with little artistic merit. He did concede that by painting for official institutions and by commission "(Long's) function was to record, not to innovate".

November 8, 1933, Vancouver Sun

Victor Long Exhibits

I could find no mentions of a full Victor Long exhibit in Winnipeg during his lifetime. Such an event could have been held at one of the predecessors of the Winnipeg Art Gallery, such as the Industrial Bureau Building on Main Street (1912 - 1935) or the Civic Auditorium on Memorial Boulevard (which opened in 1932).

As mentioned above, Long seemed to rely on one-off exhibits of his latest work in a shop window or at the public art show connected to the Provincial agricultural or Winnipeg industrial exhibitions, where he sometimes brought up to three or four pictures. (His largest show was likely the July 1892 Industrial Exhibition in Winnipeg where he displayed N. F. Hagel Q.C., Colonel and Mrs. Scott, Sir John A. Macdonald, and Joseph Wolfe.)

There are mentions of exhibits in other cities. Here is a showing of twelve portraits The Bay store in Calgary in 1913. In 1933, he had a 40-picture exhibit at the Vancouver Art Gallery that included works shipped there from Winnipeg and other Western cities.

Retrospective articles mention exhibits in Toronto and Montreal, but I can find no mention of them from that time, (though he did have some commissions in Montreal.)

February 28, 1970, Winnipeg Tribune

Long finally got his due in Winnipeg with an exhibition of around 30 of his paintings from March 9 - 14, 1970, on the second floor of The Bay's flagship store.

The man who spearheaded the showing was Gordon Smith, by then a retired local art dealer and gallery owner. He was upset when Winnipeg's new city hall opened that all of the artwork from the old building, including Long's, was put into storage. There was talk that offers were being made to purchase some of his more significant pieces.

It was hoped that a showing would remind people of Long, get his artworks back on display at city hall, and help celebrate Manitoba's centennial year. 

Smith told the Tribune's Gene Telpner that Winnipeggers were fortunate to have Long in our city. "Victor Long left history behind him when he painted those fine portraits of men who had honourably served this city. No other city on this continent owns such a collection. I consider Mr. Long the greatest portrait painter Canada has ever produced."

In the lead-up to the showing, several articles and columns were written about Long and his work. The show itself, made up of around 30 works including portraits and landscapes, received little attention. As noted above, these were largely forgotten men from a bygone era.

After the exhibit, three women from the city's finance department, Jewel Best, Doreen Roscoe, and Val Hamilton, spearheaded a fundraising campaign that collected $1,400 to go towards the cleaning and restoration of what was then 39 mayoral portraits. They presented the cheque to acting mayor Ald. Robert Taft on July 9, 1970 and the first of the portraits went up by the end of the month.

Victor Long's Works

This list is ever-changing as new sources become available. It is being updated in December 2025. 

Most "location known" artworks are found on the websites of various institutions and hyperlinks updated. Most "Location unknown" works come from reading through hundreds of newspaper articles that mention Long. I have tried where possible to weed out what are mentions of most likely the same work as some of his works were displayed in a shop window or at the Ex before being delivered to their final destination.

If you know the whereabouts of any of these, feel free to email me at christiancassidy-at-gmail.com! 

Long works, location known - Manitoba

- Winnipeg Millennium Library: Fort Douglas, Fort Garry, and Andrew Carnegie. (The landscapes were commissioned in 1906 by library committee and completed January 1907. As for Carnegie, see above.)

- Winnipeg City Hall council chambers: portraits of Winnipeg mayors from 1874 to ca. 1933. A 1911 Tribune article noted that there were 27 Long paintings at City Hall and he just got the commission for two more. 

- Manitoba Legislature: King George V and Queen Mary (both 1915) in the Speaker's Reception Room and most pre-1930 speakers in main floor corridors.

- Winnipeg Art Gallery's collection includes Mrs. Elizabeth Norquay and Consul Taylor.

- Le Musée de Saint-Boniface Museum has 23 Long portraits in its collection, including 20 reeves and mayors of St. Boniface (1880 to 1922), King Edward VII and his Queen Alexandra, and Archbishop Tache. (Confirmed by email with museum Dec 2025)

Long works, location unknown - Manitoba

- Chief Justice Wallbridge, recently deceased, commissioned by Law Society of Manitoba, for a time displayed in A. Thompson's store window (1890)

- A November 1890 Tribune article mentioned that Long did more than portraits. There were paintings and sculptures, such as: "Francesca de Remini”, "Paginini in Prison”, “Lonely”, "Roger and Angelica”, and others.

- Archbishop Machray (1890)
- Joseph Wolf (boxer?) at Geo Thompson's Jewellery Store (1891)
- Gilbert McMicken life-sized portrait on display on Main Street window (1891). (Likely done for the Legislative speaker series as McMicken was speaker from 1880 - 1882.)
- N. F. Hagel Q.C., a 3/4 figure, displayed at industrial exhibition (1892)

- Mrs. Scott, wife of Winnipeg customs collector, (1892)

- Colonel Scott, (1892) (Likely the customs inspector from above)

- Paul Hannenburg in window of Nunn's store (1893)

- Premer Thomas Greenway in window of Long's Studio (1893)

- James Wickes Taylor, writer, scholar, (1893) Source: T.C. Blegen

- Sir John A Macdonald to Manitoba Young Men's Conservative Association, life-sized (1893)

- Consul Taylor commissioned by city council (1893) (Now at Wppg Art Gallery)

- Archbishop Tache, full length, displayed in Cranston's Art Store window, Main Street (1894)

- At Industrial exhibition art show in July 1894 showing Archbishop Tache, Lady in a Sealskin Sacque, Lady Brewing 5 o-clock Tea, and "Moses Supiant" described as a noble head of an old man with wealth of snowy white hair that was still to be completed.

- Charles Burley Sr. on display at Garland's store" Portage la Prairie (1895) 

- Lt. Gov Mackintosh of SK at Regina Fair presented Aug 1895 (1895)

- James Steen, "well known citizen", front window of store (1895)

- Sir. John A MacDonald, life-sized portrait hung in the rotunda of the Manitoba Hotel during the 1896 Conservative convention in Winnipeg (1896) (Likely the same portrait mentioned above from 1893.)

- Dr. Henry A. Higginson, recently deceased, in Alex Thompson's shop window (1896)

- A M Brown, life size, in Alex Thompson's window (1896)

- Queen Victoria, age 50, for Winnipeg city hall (1897). Commissioned by city council in June 1897 for $300.
- Mrs. John Tweedy for provincial exhibition (1897)

- W. Chesterton, architect, on Display at A. taylor's bookstore (1897)
- Mrs. T.  C. Livingston, Winnipeg (1890s)

- James Wickes Taylor, U.S. Consul to Winnipeg 1870-1880s that hung in Winnipeg city hall (1890s)

- Rev. Dr. Robertson, head of Presbyterian missions, shown at Industrial Exhibition, July-Aug 1900.
- Major H. M. Arnold, commissioned by the Operatic Society, to hang in Winnipeg city hall (1901)

- Sir john A. macDonald and Sir Wilfrid Laurier in reception room of Commercial Club, Main Street (1901)

- King George VII, presented to Duke and Duchess of Cornwall & York, (later King George V and Queen Mary), during Royal visit to Winnipeg in September 1901. 
- Dr. J. K. Barrett presented to Barrett by the officials of the Inland Revenue Department, was also shown at Industrial Exhibition and in window of Imperial Dry Goods (1901)

- Hon. Robert Rogers on exhibit at  provincial exhibition (1901)

- Dr. J. K. Barrett, inspector of inland revenue, presented at a dinner in his honour by his staff (1901)

- 1902 Gordon Manuel, 12-year-old who drowned while fishing. the Manuels asked Long to paint his portrait pictured in kilt and sporran with a cane across his lap. He charged them $26 instead of standard $300. Last seen in the Stradbrook Avenue home of Mrs. A. M. Frankland, Gordon's brother, in 1970.
- Reverend Dr. J. W. Sparling for exhibition at the Ex (1903) "This is one of the best pieces of portrait work from the brush of this well-known artist" wrote the Winnipeg Tribune.

- Thomas Scott portrait unveiled at Loyal Orange Lodge 1564 on Princess Street (1903) 

- Reverend J. D. O'Meara on display in front window of Imperial Dry Goods store (1904)

- Major Stuart Mulvey Orange Lodge unveiled at Loyal Orange Lodge 1564 (1904)

- N Clark Wallace, deceased supreme grand master of Manitoba Loyal Orange Lodge (1904) 

- "The Little Heiress" on display for public sale (1906)

- Hon. Senator Girard added to wall of provincial legislative chamber after a renovation (1906)

- Hon. John Norquay added to wall of provincial legislative chamber after a renovation (1906)

- J. A. Davidson, late provincial treasurer, added to wall of provincial legislative chamber after a renovation (1906)

- Principal John M. King, portrait purchased by Rev. C. W. Gordon for presentation to school board at John M. King School event (1906)

- R J Whitla presented by Mrs. Whitla to to the YMCA at their annual meeting (1907)

- Senator Bernier, life-size bust, on display in window of hart's book store (May 1907)

- H. J. Clark, late former premier (1871-1874) and attorney general  of MB unveiled at legislature (Jan 1907)  

- R. A. Davis, late former premier (1874-1878) of MB unveiled at legislature (Jan 1907)  

- Richard Waugh, commissioned for for Manitoba Agricultural College convocation hall (1909)

- Edward Brown, retired mayor of Portage, given to Brown "presented by the people of Portage la Prairie" (1910)

- Dr. Stewart (Rev. Andrew Stewart?), registrar of Wesley College, presented by past and present theological students of the college and unveiled in convocation hall (1910)

- King George V and Queen Mary (separate portraits) in their coronation robes for Winnipeg city hall, $850 each including frames (1911) (Hung in city council chamber March 1912) Different from ones at Legislature ca. 1915?) 

- Stewart Mulvey for the Winnipeg School Board for $300 (1923) Likely for Mulvey School renovation.

- A. A. MacArthur, former member of city's Board of Control, presented by son, also a controller, to hang in the board of control room at city hall (1915)

- Re(?) cathedral, "recently destroyed by the Germans for $200" purchased by provincial library committee of the Manitoba legislature (1915)

- Father Albert Lacombe, in window of Birks' on Portage (Feb 1918)

- Major Hal. C. Fryer MC, killed in action in 1917, in Birks Jewellers window (1919)

- C. T Norris, former premier, (1924) Provincial Library main committee room

- John McDougall, retiring sergeant-at-arms, for Manitoba Legislature (1926) Sent by Longfrom B.C. "In expression of the thanks of the speaker and members of the legislative assembly" and hung the following year in a corridor

- Mrs. Crowson, home of J. H. Ashdown, (his mother-in-law) (pre-1928)

- Portrait of J. H Ashdown (pre-1928)

- A "Venice", home of J. H. Ashdown, (pre-1928)

- Col. J. B. Mitchell, head and shoulders in uniform, upon retirement from school board (1929)

- Reverend John Black, presented to John Black Memorial Church by his widow (1935)
- Mrs. Edward Brown, former YWCA president, 2nd floor Y building (noted in 1970 Tribune article). 

- East gate of fort Garry, hanging in municipality of Fort Garry office, mentioned in a 1970 Free Press article. (Not the same as the 1902 Fort Garry at the Millennium Library.)

THIS SECTION IS BEING REORGANISED - DECEMBER 2025

Long works, location known - Other Provinces

. . .  . . . . Mayor Murdoch, Calgary city hall (1909). Colonel George H. Ham of C.P.R. (1926). Mary Raynsford, also known as Marie and May Raynsford, Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria B.C.. T.J. Skinner of Calgary (pre-1921). Mr. Pat Burns of Calgary (pre-1921). Angus McKay, head of Experimental farm at Indian Head SK (1912). Mayor Williams, Regina (1909). Chief Crowfoot (unknown).

"Young girl in a pink frock and pearl necklace against a background of umbers and siennas. (Edmonton Art Gallery pre 1927)

Ontario

- Sir Charles Tupper hung in the rotunda of the Manitoba Hotel during the 1896 Conservative convention in Winnipeg (1896) (This portrait was presented to him at the convention at a dinner at the Leland House Hotel in May 1896. It likely made it to the House of Commons collection.)

Saskatchewan 

- C. H. Wilson, speaker of NWT parliament, 1888-1890, at Saskatchewan Legislature, Regina

- Mrs. Sidney W. (Edna May) Johns (1907) , Remai Modern art gallery, Saskatoon

Alberta - known location

The Government of Alberta's Provincial Art Collection website lists 32 Victor Long paintings:

Heads of State 

- King George V (1913) 

- Queen Mary (1913) 

- King George V (1917) 

- Queen Mary (1917)

Lieutenant Governors 

- Hon. David Laird, Lieutenant Governor 1876-1881 (1912) 

- Hon. Edgar Dewdney, Lieutenant Governor 1883-1888 (1913) 

- Hon. Joseph Royal, Lieutenant Governor 1884-1893 (1912) 

- Hon. C.H. Mcintosh, Lieutenant Governor 1893-1898 (1912) 

- Hon. M.C. Cameron, Lieutenant Governor 1898 (1912) 

- Hon. A.E. Forget, Lieutenant Governor 1898-1905 (1913) 

- Hon. G.H.V. Bulyea, Lieutenant Governor 1905-1915 (1911) 

- Hon. Dr. G. Robert Brett, Lieutenant Governor 1915-1925 (1916)

Premiers 

- Hon. F.W.G. Haultain, Premier 1897-1905 (1912) 

- Hon. Alex Rutherford, Premier 1905-1910 (no date) 

- Hon. A.L. Sifton, Premier 1910-1917 (1918)

- Hon. G. Stewart, Premier 1917-1921 (1916)

Speakers of the House

- Hon. G.C. Wilson, Speaker of the House 1888-1890 (1912) 

- Hon. James Ross, Speaker of the House 1891-1894 (1912) 

- Hon. J.F. Betts, Speaker of the House 1895-1898 (1912) 

- Hon. Thomas Eakins, Speaker of the House 1899-1902 (1912) 

- Hon. A.B. Gillis, Speaker of the House 1903-1905 (1912) 

- Hon. C.W. Fisher, Speaker of the House 1906-1920 (1911) 

- Hon. Charles S. Pingle, Speaker of the House 1920-1921 (1921)

Mentioned in a Calgary Herald article about an exhibit of 12 portraits shown at Calgary's Bay store in November 1921:
- Long painted "most of the judges (of Alberta), which hang in the court house"

- T J Skinner (date unknown)

- Mr. Pat Burns (date unknown)

- Duchess of Devonshire, (on display at exhibition, date unknown)
- Mr Clove, "a Calgary pioneer" (on display at exhibition, date unknown)

- "The Thinker", a male subject, much lined and thoughtful face, (on display at exhibition, date unknown)
- Three portraits featuring children (on display at exhibition, date unknown)

- Father Lacombe, being sent from Edmonton to include in exhibition. (Likely the one that once hung in the Edmonton Library)



British Columbia

- Vancouver Art Gallery exhibit November 8 to 17, 1933, mentioned in this Vancouver Sun article with a complete listing of works here. There were 40 works shown, mny appear to be local to BC. "This is the first 'One-Man Show' that he has given in the gallery." wrote Art Gallery Bulletin, November 1933 Vol. I No. III

Portraits: Mrs. Charles Burley; Mrs. W.S. Burley; Mrs. R.J. Cromie; Mrs. William Farrell; Mrs. R.H. Gurd; Mrs. J.M. Lefevre; Mrs. V.A. Long; Mrs. W.H. Manning; Mrs. Jack Norris; Mrs. J.L. Oliver; Mrs. W.C. Shelly; Miss Jeanette Dickey; Miss Dixie Girard; Miss Nancy Norris; Miss A. Perry; Miss Patricia Prowd; Mr. Henry O. Bell-Irving; Mr. F.J. Burd; Mr. Charles Burley; Mr. F.G. Chase; Mr. Henry Cole; Mr. George Halse; Col. George Ham***; Rev. Father Lacombe***; Mr. W.B. Mathewson; Mr. George McCuish;; Hon. W.C. Shelly***; Master Chippindale. Other works: A Sunset on the Pacific; Cavalier; Captured; Hallowed Vale; Happy Hours; Landscape; Leisure Moments; Moonlight; Reticence; Roses; The Cello Player; The Reader.


Also see Portrait of Lady, Portrait of a distinguished Man.

- Archbishop Tache (1894). The territorial court for the Law Society of Saskatchewan, hung in the Regina Court House (1909): Chief Justice Wetmore:

- Long invited to Montreal to paint two portraits of a wealthy resident" (1898)     

- Mr. John A. McCaul, president of NY Life Insurance Co. (NY) (unknown - 1902?)

- "portrait of a well-known New York Lady" Black's book store
Fr. Albert Lacombe at Edmonton Prov Library (noted in 1970 FP article)

- chief Crowfoot Alberta leg (mentioned in a 1970 FR article)

REgina -portrits of seven speakers of SK legislature -Noted in 1970 trib article)

BC Arhvies has three portraits (noted in 1970 Trib article)

"accurate and pleasing" photographic  winnipeg 1874-1974

1927 ham https://www.newspapers.com/article/free-press-evening-bulletin-win-free-pre/125738152/

Long's Lacombe Portrait

December 3, 1921, Winnipeg Free Press

Father Albert Lacombe: This appears to be the most-shown portrait of Long's, assuming he painted just one.

The first mention of it is in February 1918 in Winnipeg: "There is on view in Birks' window, Portage Avenue, an oil painting of the late Father Lacombe..." He was newsworthy at the time as he died the previous year. Long lived in Vancouver and was visiting Winnipeg at the Alexandra Hotel, so he likely brought it with him.

A reporter from the Vancouver Province visited Long's studio in August 1919 and wrote of the works he had on is walls,  "One of the most interesting portraits in his studio is that of Father Lacombe, a particularly characteristic study...."

Likely the same Lacombe was at the 1921 exhibition at the HBC store in Calgary. The story mentions that it was being shipped from WInnipeg, where it was on display, via Edmonton to Calgary for the show. The Calgary Herald article called it Long's "masterpiece". 

The portrait was on display with other at the Manitoba Legislature in 1921 before the portraits of past speakers and other officials were hung on the walls. A December 1921 Free Press story said, "(Lacombe) has been admired wherever it has been shown. The beauty of soul, the beneficence, the strength that were the characteristics of Father Lacombe...."

There was also a Lacombe at his Vancouver exhibit in 1933.

A 1970 retrospective article about Long in the Winnipeg Free Press noted that a Lacombe painted by Long was hanging at the Edmonton Provincial Library at the time.

What happened to the painting since then is unlear.

Long' Crowfoot Portrait

April 24, 1987, Windspeaker

Crowfoot: In my original version of this blog post back in 2013, I listed Chief Crowfoot amongst his subjects. Where I got that from, I do not know and cannot find a newspaper mention of it. What I did find during my update, though, is the above 1987 article from Windspeaker about Long's son trying to trace the portrait.
https://www.newspapers.com/image/62766777/?match=1&terms=%22portrait%20of%20crowfoot%22 

The Missing Masterpiece
 







I've yet to find anything beyond 1970. .




 http://www.sim-publishing.com/bca/vagx0062.htm

Fr. Albert Lacombe at Edmonton Prov Library (noted in 1970 FP article)
 - shipped up to Edmonton for the he exhibited: Mr. Clove of Calgary. The Duchess of Devonshire. The Thinker. Father Lacombe.
 
Sources:
(McKendry; 100 Years of Art in Manitoba;
Biographical Index of Artists in Canada;
A Dictionary of Canadian Artists, vol. 4, compiled by Colin S. MacDonald, Canadian               Paperbacks Publ. Co. Ltd., Ottawa, 1974, pp 892-93, “Victor A. Long”