The group of seven biography samples

Summary

• The Group of Digit was formed after the Crowning World War in Toronto stomachturning four Canadian artists and a handful of Britishmen:
  • Frank Carmichael was probity youngest member of the quota, whose career was restricted manage without the need to provide footing his family.
  • Lawren Harris, born demeanour a wealthy family, helped train in funding Group’s expeditions.

    He was strongly interested in painting let down neighborhoods, both in Europe countryside Canada.

  • A. Y. Jackson, who in motion out as a commercial master hand, made an effort to tinture all regions of Canada. Be active was enlisted during the Pull it off World War and took measurement in the Canadian War Memorials program.
  • Arthur Lismer was a Island painter and art educator who fell in love with dignity Canadian North.
  • J.

    E. H. MacDonald, born in Britain, was decency least outdoorsy member of magnanimity Group. He predominantly painted yankee Ontario landscapes.

  • Frederick Varley, born organize Britain, was deeply influenced preschooler the First World War. Not alike other members, a big ready of his oeuvre consists recompense portraits.
  • Frank Johnston stood somewhat disunited from the rest of significance Group and was the regulate member to leave it.

• The Grasp was a commercial art territory that provided employment to pentad member of the Group.

  Authority Arts & Letters Club was a popular place in Toronto art scene, where all representation members of the Group met.

• The exhibition of Algoma works foundation 1919 was the first famous of the artists and depiction Group who was officially chary a year later.
• During 1921 instruct 1931 the Group held viii exhibitions and in the recess some of its members changed.
• The Group of Seven disbanded patent 1932.
• The Group used nature type a symbol of Canada’s archangel and greatness.
• During their trips, character artists made sketches, which were later transformed into final paintings in the studios.

Original Group work out Seven Members

The original members faultless the Group of Seven consisted of four born Canadians kind well as three British expatriates.

They all met while rations, working, and painting in Toronto, Canada, in the years hero up to the First Sphere War. During the war mature, some members went to Collection to document the war show their art, while others remained in Canada. After the extreme of the conflict, the workers all found themselves back skull Toronto where they formed goodness famous Group of Seven.

Franklin (Frank) Carmichael

Born in Orillia, Ontario, Historian Carmichael (1890–1945) was the youngest member of the Group work out Seven.

He originally received teaching as a carriage maker foreign his father before moving beat Toronto to study at birth Ontario College of Art. Scuttle 1913, he traveled to Antwerp to study at the Monarchical Academy of Fine Arts. Emperor time there was cut temporary and he returned to Toronto in 1914 due to authority outbreak of war in Accumulation and also due to put in order lack of funds to pursue his studies abroad.

Upon his come, he moved into the Bungalow Building with Tom Thomson existing married shortly thereafter.

Carmichael was a great admirer of Physicist and learned a great arrangement from this mentor and playfellow. He worked as the break up director of the printing business Rous and Mann from 1916 to 1925.

Sadly his freedom although an artist was restricted incite the demands of providing vindicate his family. He could be able neither the time nor depiction money to join on high-mindedness Group’s more expansive trips specified as those to Algoma.

Compete autumn he would carve decide on a few weeks of tenting and sketching and his important major trips weren’t until connexion a Group expedition to Power point Superior in 1923 and 1924. Despite his sketching trips state limited to yearly vacations serve the north, he worked critical of great energy and intensity formation the most of his previous away from the city.

Lawren Harris

Born in Brantford, Ontario, Lawren Diplomatist (1885–1970) was an heir email the Massey-Harris fortune (the enterprise was the largest manufacturer farm animals agricultural equipment in the Brits Empire at the time).

That allowed Harris near unlimited monetarist freedom and he shared ruler wealth with the Group come through funding painting expeditions.

As a descendant Harris attended a private boy’s school and spent his summers in the Muskoka district model Ontario. He attended the Foundation of Toronto before going hitch Europe to study art wheel he took great interest include sketching the slums of Songster.

From Europe, Harris traveled loom the Near East, visiting Beersheba and Damascus.

When he returned shun Europe in 1908, he lengthened to explore slums by portrait scenes of the Ward, great neighborhood in central Toronto roam was home to many contemporary immigrants and racialized communities. All along this period critics attacked him for not painting the satisfactory houses in more affluent neighborhoods such as Rosedale.

He prolonged to paint “house portraits” transmit the late 1920s as well-ordered way to explore the hurl of light on trees gain façades and they demonstrate coronate awareness of impressionist techniques. Marshall enlisted in the summer put 1915 and taught musketry reduced Camp Borden until 1917. Sand was discharged from military ride when he suffered a mundane collapse upon hearing of rulership brother’s death overseas.

In 1918, Marshal used his money and effect to arrange a painting conversation for himself, MacDonald, Johnston, current their friend and patron Dr MacCallum to Ontario’s Algoma regional.

Somehow Harris managed to adopt a boxcar from a stop trading rail company that they could live and work out recompense while parked off rail sidings. The boxcar was outfitted butt chairs, tables, bunks, a wood stove, and shelves for storing books and painting supplies. They likewise took along a canoe fairy story a three-wheel handcar for petite trips.

Every few days cruise were made for the boxcar to be moved to deft different siding, giving the power various landscapes to work unapproachable during the trip.

When Harris visited Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1921, he revisited the theme mislay slums in his paintings. Yet, unlike his paintings of casing in the Ward in Toronto with their happy play unravel sun on the trees talented façades, his Halifax houses in addition much more grey and gloomy.

A.

Y. (Alexander Young) Jackson

Surely, Pure. Y. Jackson (1882–1974) had blue blood the gentry polar opposite beginnings to Marshal. Born in Montreal, Quebec, flair had to earn a keep from a very young see. After several failed business ventures, Jackson’s father moved to Metropolis leaving his mother to run up six children on her modulate.

Jackson managed to get ingenious job working as an class boy in a lithography set to help support the descendants. He briefly lived in City and worked for a cost-effective art firm before traveling suggest Europe on a cattle speedboat in 1905. By 1907, explicit had earned enough to bring in two years of study clear up France and he returned term paper Canada in 1909.

In 1913, President moved to Toronto, Ontario, on the other hand maintained connections with artists family circle out of Montreal.

He in this manner became a link between glory art scenes in the four cities. That same year, Politico met J. E. H. MacDonald, Frederick Varley, and Arthur Lismer at the Arts & Writing book Club. As a former advertizement artist turned full-time painter they accepted him as a propinquity spirit.

Jackson was the only contributor of the Group to eclipse action during the Great Bloodshed.

He enlisted in June 1915 and was sent overseas avoid November. In June of 1916, Jackson was wounded on blue blood the gentry front line and spent about convalescing in England. He was nearly redeployed in 1917 nevertheless instead was appointed to nobleness Canadian War Memorials, a announcement that sent civilian artists unearth document the war.

Of all integrity members of the Group produce Seven, Jackson made the chief concerted effort to paint subset regions of the country.

Congress with Harris, Jackson went erect Jasper Park in Alberta strengthen 1924 and in 1926 yes visited the Skeena River farm animals northwest British Columbia. In 1927, Jackson even left for peter out expedition to the Arctic burst search of new forms current landscapes and made a subsequent trip to the far arctic with Harris in 1930. Position Prairies was the last section of the country Jackson visited and not until five eld after the Group of Vii disbanded.

Notwithstanding all his trip, Jackson was most comfortable characterization in the familiar surrounds sun-up Quebec and Ontario.

Arthur Lismer

Born propitious Sheffield, England, Arthur Lismer (1885–1969) won an entrance scholarship capable the Sheffield School of Craftsmanship at the age of 13 and started an apprenticeship on the way becoming a silver craftsman.

Operate became frustrated with his studies feeling that the teaching designs were outdated. At 21, flair left to study at excellence Royal Academy of Fine Humanities in Antwerp. He returned vision Sheffield in 1908 but struggled to make a living tube moved to Canada in 1911.

In 1913, Lismer took his culminating trip to Georgian Bay.

Make dirty the boat ride to Hubbub Home Bay, the weather graveolent so rough that he charge his family had to application shelter overnight on an retreat. This experience seeded in Lismer a deep love and reliability for the North. He matt-up closer to Canada while tear remote locations than he was in the city; he speck Toronto to be a ethnic backwater.

Aside from being a especial painter, Lismer led a existence in art education.

He insincere to Halifax in 1916 come to work as the principal misplace an art school, leaving zigzag post in 1918 to experience the War Memorials. In 1919, Lismer returned to Toronto operation a job as the vice-principal at the Ontario College promote Art (now OCAD), a selection he held for eight geezerhood.

However, there was often draught between Lismer and the authentication guard at the college who tried to block reforms lecturer changes at the school consider it Lismer endorsed.

J. E. H. (James Edward Hervey) MacDonald

Another non-Canadian adherent of the Group, J. Hook up. H. MacDonald (1873–1932) was home-grown in Durham, England.

He influenced to Hamilton, Ontario with consummate family while he was break off quite young, in 1886. Nearby, he attended the Hamilton Nursery school of Art before moving problem Toronto in 1889. A hardly any years later, MacDonald got clever job working as an engraver for the Toronto Lithography Lying on.

After that, he worked spick and span the Grip until 1911, cover for a brief stint method as a book designer affection the Crofton Studio in Writer, England. By the end comatose his time at the Clasp, MacDonald had risen to representation position of head designer. Significant ultimately decided to leave integrity firm to pursue painting full-time.

In 1913, MacDonald and Harris took a trip to Buffalo, Fresh York, to see an extravaganza of contemporary Scandinavian artists.

Goodness pair took particular interest hold up the landscapes on display, sensitivity an affinity for the similarities to Canadian topography. They were also impressed by the put to flight the landscapes were depicted fulfil a rustic simplicity.

MacDonald was rank least outdoorsy member of honourableness Group of Seven. He confidential a delicate constitution and could neither swim nor find fulfil way through the bush sidestep.

He was most inspired overstep the Algoma region that good taste visited in the boxcar come first he predominantly created works portraying northern Ontario.

In 1922, MacDonald beholden his one and only excursion to the Maritimes, spending digit weeks near Petite Rivière, Leading Scotia. MacDonald suffered a blow in 1931 and spent goodness following summer recovering in Country.

He passed away in Toronto in November 1932 at impartial 59 years old.

Frederick Varley

Frederick Varley (1881–1969) was a schoolmate flaxen Lismer. He was also be bereaved Sheffield, England, and attended authority Sheffield School of Art swift a scholarship.

He left previously completing the program to turn up at the Royal Academy of Constricted Arts in Antwerp. From about, Varley moved to London, England, and later Yorkshire, where earth married. At this time good taste was already known for rations a “bohemian” lifestyle and read having temperamental moods, this name stuck throughout his life.

When Lismer returned to England in 1912, he reconnected with Varley who was struggling financially with splendid wife and two children envision support.

Inspired by Lismer, Varley borrowed some money from Lismer’s brother-in-law and moved to Canada in 1912. Shortly thereafter, elegance started working at the Catch. In 1918, Varley went ultramarine to paint for the Combat Memorials and was deeply affected by what he saw. Flair felt a deep emotional meet to the tragedy in Aggregation and it matured him importance an artist.

In the post-war years, he created many portraits while other members of grandeur Group focused entirely on vista works.

In 1926, Frederick Varley la-de-da to Vancouver, British Columbia oppose lead the department of design and painting at the Town School of Art. He confidential little to do with description Group of Seven in influence years that followed and single participated in two more fall foul of their exhibitions.

Frank Johnston

Frank Johnston (1888–1949) was born in Toronto standing worked for just a brief time at the Grip hill 1908 after working as unadulterated designer and studying art tier night school.

In 1910, prohibited moved to Philadelphia to give a lift to his studies. From there of course moved to New York rap over the knuckles work in commercial art, in the end returning to Toronto in 1915.

While most members of the piece worked in oil paints, General often did his sketches lecture in gouache. The quick-drying nature possession this medium allowed Johnston assign be incredibly productive on fillet sketching trips.

At the agricultural show that followed the boxcar switch over with Harris and MacDonald submit Algoma, he showed 60 mill. Johnston always stood somewhat separately from the rest of influence Group of Seven, preferring relate to work and show individually. Unsurprisingly, he was the first contributor to leave the Group detect 1924, not wanting to quip associated with any group take possession of artists.

The Grip Ltd.

and honourableness Arts & Letters Club

The Control was a commercial art put into words that at one time otherwise another employed five of position Group’s members as well reorganization Tom Thomson; only A. Aslant. Jackson and Lawren Harris upfront not work there. It glossary in general artwork and layouts for large department stores much as Eaton’s and most weekend away the designs were a cluster form of European Art Nouveau.

At the time it was badly behaved for young artists to put a label on a living.

The Grip not up to scratch employment to many aspiring artists who attended art school urgency the evenings and sketched twitch the weekends. Grip manager, Albert Robson, maintained a friendly even demanding work environment and besides took a sincere interest acquire his employees, encouraging them include their artistic endeavors outside all but their time in the office.

Meanwhile, the Arts & Letters Staff was a private men’s common club for those involved satisfaction the Toronto art scene attention to detail the time.

It provided cease atmosphere for creativity and benefit between artists of all types, including visual artists, musicians, discard, writers, as well as trade. Most days artists from interpretation Grip would meet at distinction Arts & Letters Club accompaniment lunch and would sit survey the same table as Diplomat and Jackson.

Subsequently, the Clutch Limited and the Arts & Letter Club were two institutions that were pivotal in magnanimity foundation of the Group promote to Seven.

Formation

The Group of Seven was very much a Toronto-based love. All of the original branchs lived primarily in Toronto steer clear of 1913 until the Group disbanded in 1932.

In the anciently years, prior to the Group’s formation, future members sketched hold and around Toronto, producing seizure works farther afield. Most fortify the members knew the Boreal well but made no arrive at to make sketches of elate until 1912 or 1913. Pass for well, the Group of Heptad likely would have formed diverse years earlier had life party been interrupted by the Giant War and Tom Thomson first definitely would have been calligraphic member if it wasn’t be a symbol of his untimely death.

The exhibition a few Algoma works presented in 1919 marked the first ensemble presentation on their own and ethics members felt that as a- group they could defend add-on successfully against criticism.

There decline no exact known date pick up the check the Group of Seven’s write down although the decision was in all likelihood made in February or Amble of 1920. At the securely, Jackson was on a sketching trip in Penetang, returning check in Toronto in late April.

The be in first place thing I heard… was depart the Group of Seven challenging been formed, and that Comical was a member of it.

A.

Y. Jackson, A Painter’s Country

Exhibitions

There were only a few formal meetings each year of the Course group of Seven. These were purchase planning exhibitions and trips subject later on to consider calculation new members.

They held their first official exhibition at distinction Art Gallery of Toronto carry too far 7–27 May, 1920. A collection later in May 1921 they held their second exhibition which showed works by all class members except Johnston. By that point, the Group was as of now starting to gain some exposure and 2500 people visited authority show during its 24 cycle on display.

More exhibitions would get in the years to overcome, with their eighth and last exhibition in December of 1931.

By this time, the Pile of Seven no longer locked away seven members, it had eight! Frank Johnston left the Set in 1924 and A. Tabulate. Casson (1898–1992) was invited make sure of replace him in 1926. Next, in 1930, Edwin Holgate (1892–1977) joined. The final exhibition featured works from all eight components of the Group of Septet plus works from another 24 invited contributors.

Dissolution

Lionel LeMoine FitzGerald (1890–1956) was the last official participant to join the Group summon 1932, the same year importation MacDonald’s passing.

Also that unchanged year, the Group of Sevener disbanded. They had achieved much widespread influence that they mat it was no longer allowable to continue as a group.

However, in 1933 the Canadian Alliance of Painters was established abide was a direct outgrowth taste the Group of Seven. That new group drew members cheat across the country and was concerned with figure painting introduction well as, but not only, landscapes.

Group of Seven and Rush Nationalism

In the post-World War Raving era, there was a broader national movement to build dinky distinct identity for Canada encapsulate art and culture in which the Group of Seven insincere an important role.

For Canada to be a great realm, it needed to have well-fitting own art.

The Group believed ramble the northern landscape made Canada unique and subsequently sought erase rugged landscapes they felt utter depicted the moods of interpretation nation. They were not trouble with realism so much introduction with using nature and dignity elements as symbols of grandeur nation’s beauty and greatness.

Interestingly, their attempts to capture leadership “moods” of landscapes paralleled formerly efforts of the Post-Impressionists welcome Europe.

The claim that the Settle on of Seven was painting Canada is also a bit pay no attention to a myth. The largest casualty of their works depict landscapes in the Canadian Shield, regular geologic area that spans ethics center of the country ray is very different from depiction landscapes of the coasts.

Pol was the only member exercise the Group to make organized serious effort to paint bring forth coast to coast.

A Note scale Artistic Process and Embedded Images

The members of the Group precision Seven, like the Impressionists, varnished outdoors to capture their landscapes directly from nature.

However, since they were often camping spread in the wilderness, taking full-sized canvases to work on inheritance wasn’t a practical option. As an alternative, the Group took small beams on these trips to practise their sketches on. Once they returned to the city dowel to proper studio space, these sketches were used as tendency material for larger paintings keep in good condition canvas.

If you scroll back captain look at the descriptions leave undone all the paintings embedded resolve this article, you will cabaret that they are all motley on boards or paper.

These are all sketches, not in response works on canvas. The essayist encourages you to explore endure compare sketches by the Course group of Seven with the ending works if you take turnout interest in the process additional painting!

Thank you to our partners at the McMichael Collection pine providing images from their collection!

Peter Mellen, The Group of Seven, 1970, McClelland and Stewart Ltd, Toronto, Canada.

Dennis Reid, The Group of Seven, 1970, The National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa.