John McArthur (artist and merchant)

John McArthur, born in 1814 in Hamilton, Scotland, United Kingdom, and died on May 5, 1903, in Montreal, Canada, was a British-born Canadian artist, house and commercial painter and decorator, businessman, and merchant.

As a painter, John McArthur was primarily a landscape painter, a follower of the Barbizon School. He was also one of the first members of the Art Association of Montreal.

Biography John McArthur was born in 1814 in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom. After practicing his craft as a painter and house painter, notably in the cities of Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Belfast, he decided to emigrate to Montreal, Canada, in 1845. In 1846, he entered into partnership with Alexander Ramsay, a paint, oil, and varnish dealer, with whom he offered complementary services, including house painting, decorative painting, glazier, and upholsterer. During the 1850s, Ramsay and McArthur hired British glassmaker John C. Spence to offer stained glass and glass enameling services. Together, they notably oversaw the manufacturing of the glazing for the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Church in Montreal in 1853. On December 1, 1854, the firm of Ramsay and McArthur was dissolved by mutual consent.

From 1855 to 1860, John McArthur continued to offer his services as a house & commercial painter and decorator and upholsterer. He opened a shop at "70 Grande rue Saint-Jacques" on May 1, 1856. In 1858, he designed the decoration of the Theatre Royal in Montreal. On May 12, 1860, he joined forces with his former glassmaker colleague John C. Spence. During the royal visit of Prince Edward of Wales in 1860, McArthur and Spence designed and decorated at least six of the temporary triumphal arches erected in the city of Montreal, the temporary ballroom building and the residence of the Honorable John Rose which was used as Prince Edward's temporary residence in Montreal.

Around 1862, John McArthur ended his partnership with John C. Spence, and decided to partner with his own son, John C. McArthur. In 1866, McArthur & Son painted the ceiling decorations of a store at the corner of St-Jaques and Place Victoria. In 1867, the firm painted the ceiling decorations of the Merchants' Bank building at Place d'Armes. In 1872, the firm may also have painted the ballroom of Ravenscrag in Montreal. In this regard, his paintings "beautified many Montreal residences." John McArthur died on May 5, 1903, in Montreal, Canada.

Here is a non-exhaustive list of artists who worked with John McArthur:

Francis Pedretti, house painter and decorator (1860s). Alexander Ramsay, house painter and decorator (1840s and 1850s). M. Rosner (of New York), house painter and decorator (1850s). October 17–19, 1850, Provincial Exhibition (Department of Industry): Seven imitation wood and marble paintings by Ramsay & McArthur: Special Prize. September 27–30, 1853, Provincial Exhibition (Department of Industry, Section 8: Fine Arts): Copy of an oil painting on canvas depicting a landscape, by Ramsay & McArthur: Recommended Second Prize; Bedroom set with enameled glass panels painted with landscapes, fruit, and other decorations, by Ramsay & McArthur: Commended and Special Prize. Table decorated with enameled glass, by Ramsay & McArthur: Commended and Special Prize. Stained glass windows, by Ramsay & McArthur (no prize). August 12–August 26, 1857, Art Exhibition presented by the Mercantile Library Association at Bonaventure Hall: "Storm on the Thames," a copy by John McArthur of an oil painting on canvas. August 25–September 8, 1860, Great Exhibition (Department of Industry, Section 7: Fine Arts): Stained glass windows, by McArthur & Spence: Silver Medal. September 15–October, 1863, Provincial Exhibition (Department of Industry, 2nd class, Section A): Marble imitation on wooden panel by J. McArthur & Son: 1st prize and diploma December 8, 1887, Art Fair organized by The Art Gallery: “Canadian Landscape,” an oil painting on canvas by John McArthur.

Notes and references