Gurmehak W. and Sachkirat K.S.

 Paintings of the Seven Years’ War

Gurmehak W. and Sachkirat K.S.
PDSB Pilot Regional Fair
Brampton, ON

For our project, we worked together to understand how paintings show important events from the Seven Years’ War (1756 - 1763), and how they represent our history. During the project we focused on key paintings such as The Death of General Wolfe by Benjamin West, as well as Indigenous perspectives. 

We researched the Battle of the Plains of Abraham and examined paintings depicting General James Wolfe as a hero, even though in reality the battle was more chaotic. We also studied other events like the Battle of Minden and the Capture of Havana, which helped Britain become more powerful.  

While researching, we noticed that the paintings were not always accurate. A number of art pieces were painted years after the war and focused on the British perspective. Indigenous peoples, such as the Haudenosaunee, were represented unfairly or left out completely. Although they played an important role in supporting the British, they were shown as extras in paintings.  

In conclusion, when looking at art that represents our past, we need to ask ourselves who painted it, whose perspective does it represent, and whose perspective is missing?  Paintings can help us understand history visually, however, there may be biases and they may not always tell the full story. 

What sources and evidence did you consult for your project? What different perspectives did they provide on your topic?

We gathered our information from trusted sources like Encyclopedia Britannica and museum websites, to learn about the paintings and the events. These sites helped us understand what happened and why the paintings were created. We quickly noticed that many paintings focused on European victories while ignoring Indigenous experiences. Indigenous people made important decisions and played key roles in the battles which were not clearly shown in many pieces of art. By looking at different perspectives, we learned that history is not just one story; it varies in ways based on bias.

What is the historical significance of your topic?

The Seven Years’ War was very important in shaping Canada. Britain's win led to France losing control of New France, which changed our nation’s future. Canada developed under British laws under the British North America Act. Indigenous people were affected as their land, alliances and ways of life changed. Even though they played a crucial role, they were not represented properly in artwork. 

Why did you choose this topic? 

We chose this topic because we both like art, history and the backstory behind art. We were excited about the idea of doing a project to research art, and learning about how paintings tell stories, and influence how people view and understand the past.