John Young Johnstone

Biography Johnstone is considered to be one of the more enigmatic of the Canadian Impressionist painters. With no contemporary texts about his life, myths and speculations have filled that void. left Soleil sur les voiles, created between 1910 and 1928Johnstone was noted by institutional collectors and as a sign of support, the National Gallery of Canada bought six of his canvases in his lifetime. Moreover, he received critical acclaim. In 1925, art critic, Newton MacTavish, suggested he was among the very fine painters of the day in his book, The Fine Arts in Canada. He was a member of the Beaver Hall Group which had its first exhibition in 1921, of the Pen and Pencil Club of Montreal and of the Arts Club of Montreal.

In 1921, he inherited from his mother a pre-Confederation townhouse at 781 University Street (now 3533) and proceeded to transform the upper floor to a six metre high studio where he painted and lived with friends until his departure for Cuba. To supplement his income Johnstone taught at the Conseil des arts et manufactures, at the Monument-National from 1918 to 1928 and various art schools. In 1928, he was expelled from the Arts Club of Montreal. Quai des Augustins, Bruges, 1915, National Gallery of Canada Start Another, 1915, gouache, Agnes Etherington Art Centre Un coin du Marché Bonsecours, Montréal, 1915, Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec Café d'or, Paris, 1916?, Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec Indienne au Marché Bonsecours, 1916, Montréal, Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec Bonsecours Market, 1916, National Gallery of Canada Jacques Cartier St., Montreal, 1917, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria Arrière-cour d'une vieille maison de la rue Saint-Vincent, Montréal, 1919 or 1920, Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec Self Portrait, c.1916, The Robert McLaughlin Gallery Deux femmes de Caughnawaga, 1930, Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal In Havana, 1930, Art Gallery of Hamilton Le Soleil sur les voiles, 1910–1928, Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec Paysage au ciel jaune, 1910–1928, Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec