Introduction

Notman was at the peak of his career. When the exhibition commissioners in charge of Canadian entries to the 1878 Paris exhibition invited Notman to send an exhibit, he decided on a large composite photograph representing both the growing nation and a unique aspect of Canadian life, curling. The finished picture, made up of 122 individual photographs pasted on a painted background, was to be sent to the International Exhibition in Paris scheduled for the following year.

The earliest known Notman composite was made in 1864. It wasn't until 1870 with the creation of the Skating Carnival composite that Notman paid any serious attention to this medium. Encouraged by the public reception and the brisk sales of the Skating Carnival produced in several sizes Notman began to include composites as part of his regular service to costumers. In the next five years alone, his Montreal studio produced several dozen composites of various subjects.