Hubert Darrell and Darrell Morrisey, the Two Darrells

 

Anyone following my work knows of my interest in the "forgotten" Beaver Hall Group artist Darrell Morrisey. I thought that I had written what I wanted to say about Darrell Morrisey and then I read Adam Shoalts's Vanished Beyond the Map: The Mystery of Lost Explorer Hubert Darrell and I
realized that a little more needed to be said on Darrell Morrisey. Hubert Darrell, who explored and mapped parts of Canada's far north, is the son of Charles Darrell after whom, coincidentally, Darrell Morrisey was named. In 1890 Hubert Darrell moved to Birtle, Manitoba and several years later he began his exploration and mapping of Canada's far north. Darrell Morrisey was an artist and member of the prestigious Beaver Hall Group of artists. The two Darrells never met and, tragically, they both died young, but they lived true to their inner calling, one that was far removed from the expectations of their families and social class. Here is the essay, THE TWO DARRELLS, HUBERT DARRELL AND DARRELL MORRISEY.

Adam Shoalts on Hubert Darrell, explorer

I highly recommend Adam Shoalts’ new book, Vanished Beyond the Map, The Mystery of Lost Explorer Hubert Darrell (2025). What a great book; largely a mystery (discovering the life story and possible fate of Hubert Darrell, an explorer of Canada's far north), it is also a celebration of Canada's north, and it is fascinating to read of the people who were Hubert Darrell's contemporaries.

Hubert Darrell is the son of Charles Darrell after whom the Montreal-born Beaver Hall artist, Darrell Morrisey, was named. Darrell Morrisey's father, T.L. Morrisey, was a business colleague of Charles Darrell. Here is more information on Darrell Morrisey. Below is possibly the only existing photograph of Hubert Darrell;

Hubert Darrell

Hubert Darrell

Note: Image restored and colourized by Chat GPT.