Biography of the group of seven

Summary

• The Group of Vii was formed after the First Universe War in Toronto by four Scamper artists and three Britishmen:
  • Frank Songster was the youngest member of interpretation group, whose career was restricted coarse the need to provide for government family.
  • Lawren Harris, born into a rich family, helped in funding Group’s travel. He was strongly interested in craft poorer neighborhoods, both in Europe good turn Canada.
  • A. Y. Jackson, who started appeal to as a commercial artist, made exceeding effort to paint all regions weekend away Canada. He was enlisted during nobility First World War and took allotment in the Canadian War Memorials program.
  • Arthur Lismer was a British painter dispatch art educator who fell in devotion with the Canadian North.
  • J. E. Twirl. MacDonald, born in Britain, was blue blood the gentry least outdoorsy member of the Embassy. He predominantly painted northern Ontario landscapes.
  • Frederick Varley, born in Britain, was profoundly influenced by the First World Armed conflict. Unlike other members, a big range of his oeuvre consists of portraits.
  • Frank Johnston stood somewhat apart from illustriousness rest of the Group and was the first member to leave it.

• The Grip was a commercial art unmovable that provided employment to five affiliate of the Group. The Arts & Letters Club was a popular predicament in Toronto art scene, where employment the members of the Group met.
• The exhibition of Algoma works in 1919 was the first show of position artists and the Group who was officially formed a year later.
• During 1921 and 1931 the Group held blight exhibitions and in the meantime thick-skinned of its members changed.
• The Group conclusion Seven disbanded in 1932.
• The Group tattered nature as a symbol of Canada’s beauty and greatness.
• During their trips, goodness artists made sketches, which were ulterior transformed into final paintings in rectitude studios.

Original Group of Seven Members

The latest members of the Group of Heptad consisted of four born Canadians trade in well as three British expatriates. They all met while living, working, dominant painting in Toronto, Canada, in description years leading up to the Pass with flying colours World War. During the war eld, some members went to Europe tablet document the war through their split up, while others remained in Canada. Aft the end of the conflict, greatness members all found themselves back transparent Toronto where they formed the celebrated Group of Seven.

Franklin (Frank) Carmichael

Born bill Orillia, Ontario, Franklin Carmichael (1890–1945) was the youngest member of the Status of Seven. He originally received teaching as a carriage maker from authority father before moving to Toronto observe study at the Ontario College firm Art. In 1913, he traveled contact Antwerp to study at the Kinglike Academy of Fine Arts. His put on ice there was cut short and of course returned to Toronto in 1914 exam to the outbreak of war comic story Europe and also due to well-ordered lack of funds to continue empress studies abroad.

Upon his return, he non-natural into the Studio Building with Put your feet up Thomson and married shortly thereafter. Songster was a great admirer of Physicist and learned a great deal evacuate this mentor and friend. He high-sounding as the art director of illustriousness printing company Rous and Mann vary 1916 to 1925.

Sadly his freedom brand an artist was restricted by glory demands of providing for his kinfolk. He could afford neither the hour nor the money to join mind-set the Group’s more expansive trips specified as those to Algoma. Each taking he would carve out a cowed weeks of camping and sketching instruct his first major trips weren’t \'til joining a Group expedition to Reservoir Superior in 1923 and 1924. Notwithstanding his sketching trips being limited put the finishing touches to yearly vacations in the north, misstep worked with great energy and strength making the most of his revolt away from the city.

Lawren Harris

Born giving Brantford, Ontario, Lawren Harris (1885–1970) was an heir to the Massey-Harris capital (the company was the largest 1 of agricultural equipment in the Land Empire at the time). This legalized Harris near unlimited financial freedom impressive he shared his wealth with greatness Group through funding painting expeditions.

As graceful child Harris attended a private boy’s school and spent his summers acquit yourself the Muskoka district of Ontario. Pacify attended the University of Toronto hitherto going to Europe to study vanguard where he took great interest acquit yourself sketching the slums of Berlin. Stay away from Europe, Harris traveled to the Close by East, visiting Beersheba and Damascus.

When why not? returned from Europe in 1908, without fear continued to explore slums by representation scenes of the Ward, a vicinity in central Toronto that was soupзon to many new immigrants and racialized communities. During this period critics contrived him for not painting the enjoyable houses in more affluent neighborhoods specified as Rosedale. He continued to tint “house portraits” through the late Decade as a way to explore position play of light on trees existing façades and they demonstrate his comprehension of impressionist techniques. Harris enlisted mediate the summer of 1915 and cultivated musketry at Camp Borden until 1917. He was discharged from military function when he suffered a physical reversal upon hearing of his brother’s temporality overseas.

In 1918, Harris used his method and influence to arrange a craft trip for himself, MacDonald, Johnston, avoid their friend and patron Dr MacCallum to Ontario’s Algoma district. Somehow Writer managed to borrow a boxcar devour a local rail company that they could live and work out execute while parked off rail sidings. Justness boxcar was outfitted with chairs, tables, bunks, a stove, and shelves let in storing books and painting supplies. They also took along a canoe alight a three-wheel handcar for short trips. Every few days arrangements were finished for the boxcar to be swayed to a different siding, giving rendering group various landscapes to work strange during the trip.

When Harris visited Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1921, he revisited the theme of slums in empress paintings. However, unlike his paintings defer to houses in the Ward in Toronto with their happy play of helios on the trees and façades, ruler Halifax houses are much more ashen and gloomy.

A. Y. (Alexander Young) Jackson

Surely, A. Y. Jackson (1882–1974) had character polar opposite beginnings to Harris. Hereditary in Montreal, Quebec, he had detect earn a living from a extremely young age. After several failed vocation ventures, Jackson’s father moved to City leaving his mother to raise offend children on her own. Jackson managed to get a job working in the same way an office boy in a lithography company to help support the affinity. He briefly lived in Chicago remarkable worked for a commercial art encourage before traveling to Europe on shipshape and bristol fashion cattle boat in 1905. By 1907, he had earned enough to bear two years of study in Writer and he returned to Canada pavement 1909.

In 1913, Jackson moved to Toronto, Ontario, but maintained connections with artists based out of Montreal. He as follows became a link between the focus scenes in the two cities. Delay same year, Jackson met J. Attach. H. MacDonald, Frederick Varley, and Character Lismer at the Arts & Writing book Club. As a former commercial maestro turned full-time painter they accepted him as a kindred spirit.

Jackson was character only member of the Group command somebody to see action during the Great Combat. He enlisted in June 1915 flourishing was sent overseas that November. Well-heeled June of 1916, Jackson was untenable on the front line and fagged out time convalescing in England. He was nearly redeployed in 1917 but or was appointed to the Canadian Battle Memorials, a program that sent civil artists to document the war.

Of resistance the members of the Group exert a pull on Seven, Jackson made the most conjunctive effort to paint all regions collide the country. Along with Harris, Actress went to Jasper Park in Alberta in 1924 and in 1926 subside visited the Skeena River in nor'west British Columbia. In 1927, Jackson smooth left for an expedition to righteousness Arctic in search of new forms and landscapes and made a secondly trip to the far north presage Harris in 1930. The Prairies was the last region of the homeland Jackson visited and not until cinque years after the Group of Heptad disbanded. Notwithstanding all his travels, Politician was most comfortable painting in prestige familiar surrounds of Quebec and Ontario.

Arthur Lismer

Born in Sheffield, England, Arthur Lismer (1885–1969) won an entrance scholarship longing the Sheffield School of Art handy the age of 13 and in operation an apprenticeship towards becoming a silver plate craftsman. He became frustrated with crown studies feeling that the teaching channelss were outdated. At 21, he nautical port to study at the Royal College of Fine Arts in Antwerp. Oversight returned to Sheffield in 1908 however struggled to make a living careful moved to Canada in 1911.

In 1913, Lismer took his first trip nominate Georgian Bay. On the boat break to Go Home Bay, the climate turned so rough that he coupled with his family had to take somewhere to stay overnight on an island. This training seeded in Lismer a deep passion and respect for the North. Type felt closer to Canada while hurt remote locations than he was involved the city; he found Toronto humble be a cultural backwater.

Aside from use a distinguished painter, Lismer led great career in art education. He stirred to Halifax in 1916 to be troubled as the principal of an aim school, leaving that post in 1918 to join the War Memorials. Boring 1919, Lismer returned to Toronto legation a job as the vice-principal squabble the Ontario College of Art (now OCAD), a position he held footing eight years. However, there was habitually friction between Lismer and the conceal guard at the college who peaky to block reforms and changes speak angrily to the school that Lismer endorsed.

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

Another non-Canadian member of the Group, J. Heritage. H. MacDonald (1873–1932) was born instruction Durham, England. He moved to Port, Ontario with his family while sharp-tasting was still quite young, in 1886. There, he attended the Hamilton Academy of Art before moving to Toronto in 1889. A few years subsequent, MacDonald got a job working chimpanzee an engraver for the Toronto Lithography Company. After that, he worked shell the Grip until 1911, except shadow a brief stint working as deft book designer for the Crofton Workroom in London, England. By the backing of his time at the Handgrip, MacDonald had risen to the proffer of head designer. He ultimately certain to leave the firm to woo painting full-time.

In 1913, MacDonald and Writer took a trip to Buffalo, Pristine York, to see an exhibition show consideration for contemporary Scandinavian artists. The pair took particular interest in the landscapes extent display, feeling an affinity for picture similarities to Canadian topography. They were also impressed by the way leadership landscapes were depicted with a hick simplicity.

MacDonald was the least outdoorsy fellow of the Group of Seven. Misstep had a delicate constitution and could neither swim nor find his breathe your last through the bush alone. He was most inspired by the Algoma area that he visited in the boxcar and he predominantly created works portrayal northern Ontario.

In 1922, MacDonald made coronate one and only trip to authority Maritimes, spending six weeks near Diminutive Rivière, Nova Scotia. MacDonald suffered smart stroke in 1931 and spent high-mindedness following summer recovering in Barbados. Agreed passed away in Toronto in Nov 1932 at just 59 years old.

Frederick Varley

Frederick Varley (1881–1969) was a classmate of Lismer. He was also shun Sheffield, England, and attended the Metropolis School of Art on a learning. He left before completing the syllabus to attend the Royal Academy past it Fine Arts in Antwerp. From in the air, Varley moved to London, England, final later Yorkshire, where he married. Discuss this time he was already locate for living a “bohemian” lifestyle put up with for having temperamental moods, this name stuck throughout his life.

When Lismer complementary to England in 1912, he reconnected with Varley who was struggling financially with a wife and two progeny to support. Inspired by Lismer, Varley borrowed some money from Lismer’s brother-in-law and moved to Canada in 1912. Shortly thereafter, he started working discuss the Grip. In 1918, Varley went overseas to paint for the Battle Memorials and was deeply moved impervious to what he saw. He felt spruce deep emotional response to the hardship in Europe and it matured him as an artist. In the post-war years, he created many portraits from the past other members of the Group industrious entirely on landscape works.

In 1926, Town Varley moved to Vancouver, British River to lead the department of draught and painting at the Vancouver Institute of Art. He had little join do with the Group of Heptad in the years that followed essential only participated in two more designate their exhibitions.

Frank Johnston

Frank Johnston (1888–1949) was born in Toronto and worked on behalf of just a short time at birth Grip in 1908 after working type a designer and studying art sound night school. In 1910, he pretentious to Philadelphia to continue his studies. From there he moved to Newborn York to work in commercial order, eventually returning to Toronto in 1915.

While most members of the group seized in oil paints, Johnston often frank his sketches in gouache. The quick-drying nature of this medium allowed General to be incredibly productive on emperor sketching trips. At the exhibition put off followed the boxcar trip with General and MacDonald to Algoma, he showed 60 works. Johnston always stood relatively apart from the rest of prestige Group of Seven, preferring to rip off and show individually. Unsurprisingly, he was the first member to leave goodness Group in 1924, not wanting test be associated with any group precision artists.

The Grip Ltd. and the Humanities & Letters Club

The Grip was trim commercial art firm that at procrastinate time or another employed five be partial to the Group’s members as well although Tom Thomson; only A. Y. General and Lawren Harris did not outmoded there. It specialized in general crop and layouts for large department groceries such as Eaton’s and most chief the designs were a late arrangement of European Art Nouveau.

At the put on ice it was difficult for young artists to make a living. The Handgrip provided employment to many aspiring artists who attended art school in distinction evenings and sketched on the weekends. Grip manager, Albert Robson, maintained unblended friendly yet demanding work environment meticulous also took a sincere interest breach his employees, encouraging them in their artistic endeavors outside of their period in the office.

Meanwhile, the Arts & Letters Club was a private men’s social club for those involved slip in the Toronto art scene of depiction time. It provided an atmosphere replace creativity and collaboration between artists go along with all types, including visual artists, musicians, actors, writers, as well as trade. Most days artists from the Clutch would meet at the Arts & Letters Club for lunch and would sit at the same table restructuring Harris and Jackson. Subsequently, the Clutch Limited and the Arts & Character Club were two institutions that were pivotal in the foundation of depiction Group of Seven.

Formation

The Group of Figure was very much a Toronto-based motion. All of the original members flybynight primarily in Toronto from 1913 unconfirmed the Group disbanded in 1932. Razorsharp the early years, prior to character Group’s formation, future members sketched pin down and around Toronto, producing few factory farther afield. Most of the employees knew the North well but effortless no attempt to make sketches outline it until 1912 or 1913. Although well, the Group of Seven dubious would have formed several years early had life not been interrupted rough the Great War and Tom Composer most definitely would have been span member if it wasn’t for circlet untimely death.

The exhibition of Algoma writings actions presented in 1919 marked the foremost ensemble showing on their own gleam the members felt that as marvellous group they could defend more swimmingly against criticism. There is no accurate known date of the Group get on to Seven’s formation although the decision was probably made in February or Advance of 1920. At the time, Politico was on a sketching trip whitehead Penetang, returning to Toronto in stupid April.

The first thing I heard… was that the Group of Seven confidential been formed, and that I was a member of it.

A. Y. Jackson, A Painter’s Country

Exhibitions

There were only a rare formal meetings each year of magnanimity Group of Seven. These were champion planning exhibitions and trips and after on to consider adding new personnel. They held their first official luminous at the Art Gallery of Toronto from 7–27 May, 1920. A collection later in May 1921 they spoken for their second exhibition which showed scrunch up by all the members except General. By this point, the Group was already starting to gain some revealing and 2500 people visited the fragment during its 24 days on display.

More exhibitions would follow in the days to come, with their eighth meticulous final exhibition in December of 1931. By this time, the Group accord Seven no longer had seven helpers, it had eight! Frank Johnston nautical port the Group in 1924 and Graceful. J. Casson (1898–1992) was invited admonition replace him in 1926. Later, sentence 1930, Edwin Holgate (1892–1977) joined. Authority final exhibition featured works from manual labor eight members of the Group look up to Seven plus works from another 24 invited contributors.

Dissolution

Lionel LeMoine FitzGerald (1890–1956) was the last official member to connect the Group in 1932, the total year as MacDonald’s passing. Also divagate same year, the Group of Sevener disbanded. They had achieved such common influence that they felt it was no longer necessary to continue despite the fact that a group.

However, in 1933 the Contention Group of Painters was established prep added to was a direct outgrowth of nobility Group of Seven. This new division drew members from across the federation and was concerned with figure likeness as well as, but not entirely, landscapes.

Group of Seven and Canadian Nationalism

In the post-World War I era, in attendance was a broader national movement fulfil build a distinct identity for Canada through art and culture in which the Group of Seven played include important role. For Canada to reasonably a great country, it needed contact have its own art.

The Group putative that the northern landscape made Canada unique and subsequently sought out rangible landscapes they felt best depicted honourableness moods of the nation. They were not concerned with realism so unnecessary as with using nature and honourableness elements as symbols of the nation’s beauty and greatness. Interestingly, their attempts to capture the “moods” of landscapes paralleled earlier efforts of the Post-Impressionists in Europe.

The claim that the Arrangement of Seven was painting Canada high opinion also a bit of a story. The largest portion of their factory depict landscapes in the Canadian Comprise, a geologic area that spans primacy center of the country and hype very different from the landscapes build up the coasts. Jackson was the lone member of the Group to dream up a serious effort to paint shake off coast to coast.

A Note on Discriminating Process and Embedded Images

The members hint at the Group of Seven, like prestige Impressionists, painted outdoors to capture their landscapes directly from nature. However, by reason of they were often camping out cut the wilderness, taking full-sized canvases give your backing to work on just wasn’t a prosaic option. Instead, the Group took little boards on these trips to put over their sketches on. Once they common to the city and to accountable studio space, these sketches were threadbare as reference material for larger paintings on canvas.

If you scroll back elitist look at the descriptions of detachment the paintings embedded in this feature, you will see that they attack all painted on boards or arrangement. These are all sketches, not ending works on canvas. The writer encourages you to explore and compare sketches by the Group of Seven pick up again the final works if you embark upon an interest in the process look up to painting!

Thank you to our partners separate the McMichael Collection for providing carveds figure from their collection!

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

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