Oscar Peterson, A Lifetime Folio of Personal Portraits by Al Gilbert

Al Gilbert (1922-2019)

Dubbed the “Ambassador of Canadian Photography", Al Gilbert is known internationally for his portraits of prominent people, including musicians Oscar Peterson and Liona Boyd, and politicians such as US Vice-President Joe Biden, and several prime ministers of Israel.

In 1990, Gilbert was made a Member of the Order of Canada; he was later awarded the Confederation Medal of Canada in 1992. Gilbert was a Fellow of the Professional Photographers of Canada, a Fellow of the American Society of Photographers and a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain. He was voted Photographer of the Year three times and the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Professional Photographers of Canada. In 1994 he was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Photographic Industry of America and the International Award from the American Society of Photographers. In 2007, he was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Professional Photographers of America, one of only seven people to have received the award and the only Canadian ever to be so honoured.

AI Gilbert has created two books: A Portfolio (1994), a 100-page volume with 40 portraits, commentary and lighting diagrams; and AI Gilbert Master of Portraiture (2002), a 160-page book with more than 60 portraits, diagrams and commentary in English and Chinese.

The Oscar Peterson Public School in Mississauga, Ontario, is home to nine different portraits of the famous jazz pianist, donated by Gilbert to inspire its young music students.

Adapted from: GilbertStudio.ca

From the colophon:

It gives me great pleasure to present this Folio of Al Gilbert's portraits of my late husband Dr. Oscar E. Peterson, C.C. During the course of nearly fifty years, Mr. Gilbert took some wonderful photographs, capturing Oscar at various stages in his life and career. When Mr. Gilbert showed me the photos he intended to print for this special Folio I was immediately deeply moved. How wonderful it is to see the portraits and remember – Oscar’s smile, his graceful hands, his absolute ease at the piano and the joy he radiated always.

This special, limited edition set of eight of those portraits is a treasure in many ways. It is a testament to the memory of Oscar Peterson and his legacy. It is a testament to the legacy of one of Canada’s finest photographic artists, Mr. Al Gilbert. It is also a testament to historical film processing, as these archival prints will long out last us, preserving these legacies for future generations. I am so pleased that Mr. Gilbert chose to produce this fine Folio. It is my hope that collectors and admirers of both artists will cherish this collection, as I will.

KELLY PRESTON