William Brymner
William Brymner | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of William Brymner | |
| Born | December 14, 1855 |
| Died | June 18, 1925 (aged 69) |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Education | Académie Julian |
| Known for | Painting |
William Brymner, CMG (December 14, 1855 – June 18, 1925) was a Canadian art teacher and a figure and landscape painter.
Early years
Born in Greenock, Scotland, the son of Douglas Brymner the first Dominion Archivist and Jean Thomson, he moved with his family to Melbourne, Lower Canada in 1857. In 1864, his family moved to Montreal, Lower Canada. Following architectural studies in enrolled at the Académie Julian in Paris, France in 1878 where his instructors were William-Adolphe Bouguereau and Tony Robert-Fleury.[1] Both of his teachers, in Paris, were famous exponents of 'Grand manner' naturalism. During this period at the Salon he became interested in the work of Jean-Louis Ernest Meissonier who was already popular with the French public.[1]
Later life
Brymner specialized in domestic figure scenes and avoided large historical subjects. Two Girls Reading of 1898 displays a "careful treatment of light and an understanding of the force of a simple emphatic composition".[1] In 1886, he settled in Montreal after staying in Paris "on and off for almost seven years".[1] Two years prior to leaving Paris, at Runswick Bay, Yorkshire, he completed A Wreath of Flowers.
Many members of the Beaver Hall Group studied under Brymner, who encouraged them to explore new modernistic approaches to painting.
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Bonsecours Church and Market, 1913 -
In the Orchard (Spring), 1892, National Gallery of Canada -
Ile aux Coudres, c. 1900, National Gallery of Canada -
Near Louisbourg, Cape Breton c. 1904–1914, National Gallery of Canada -
Evening, 1907, National Gallery of Canada -
Young Lady, c. 1910, National Gallery of Canada
_-_William_Brymner.jpg)
Pupils
Among Brymner's pupils were:
- Robert Wakeham Pilot[2]
- Nora Collyer
- Emily Coonan
- Prudence Heward
- Mabel Lockerby
- Mabel May
- Helen McNicoll
- Kathleen Morris
- Lilias Torrance Newton
- A. M. Pattison
- Sarah Robertson
- Anne Savage
- Ethel Seath
Recognition and awards
In 1883, he was made an associate of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (RCA). He was elected vice-president of the RCA in 1907 and president in 1909. In 1916, he was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George. His works were exhibited by Galerie L'Art français.[3]
Footnotes
- ^ a b c d Reid, Dennis (1988). A Concise History Of Canadian Painting: Second Edition. Toronto: Oxford University Press. pp. 94–95. ISBN 0-19-540663-X.
- ^ "Robert Pilot". Heffel.com. Archived from the original on 2 September 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Vie des arts, printemps 1963, n°30, p.40, "Galerie L'Art français, 370 ouest, rue Laurier: Brymner" http://www.erudit.org/feuilletage/index.html?va1081917.va1205271@56
References
- "William Brymner". Dictionary of Canadian Biography (online ed.). University of Toronto Press. 1979–2016.
- Reid, Dennis (1988). A Concise History Of Canadian Painting: Second Edition. Toronto: Oxford University Press. pp. 94–95. ISBN 0-19-540663-X.
- Newlands, Anne (2000). Canadian Art: From Its Beginnings To 2000. Firefly Books Ltd. p. 57. ISBN 978-1-55209-450-1.
- Harper, J. Russell (1977). Painting in Canada: a history. University of Toronto Press. pp. 209–211. ISBN 0-8020-6307-1.
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