William Brymner

William Brymner, (December 14, 1855 – June 18, 1925) was a Canadian figure and landscape painter and educator. In addition to playing a key role in the development of Impressionism in Canada, Brymner taught numerous artists who became leading figures in Canadian modern art.

Early years

Born in Greenock, Scotland, the son of Douglas Brymner the first Dominion Archivist and Jean Thomson, Brymner moved with his family to Melbourne, Canada East in 1857. In 1864, his family moved to Montreal, Canada East. They later lived in the area of Ottawa, Canada West where Brymner attended the Ottawa Grammar School.

Following architectural studies, Brymner enrolled at the Académie Julian in Paris, France, in 1878, where his instructors were William-Adolphe Bouguereau and Tony Robert-Fleury. Both of his teachers were famous exponents of 'Grand manner' naturalism. During this period at the Salon Brymner became interested in the work of Jean-Louis Ernest Meissonier, who was already popular with the French public. Charles Gill Prudence Heward Randolph Hewton Edwin Holgate Kathleen Morris Lilias Torrance Newton A. M. Pattison Robert Wakeham Pilot Sarah Robertson Arthur Dominique Rozaire Anne Savage Ethel Seath

Recognition and awards

In 1883, he was made an associate of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (RCA). In 1904, he received a silver medal at the Canadian exhibition at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. 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 and could use the honorary prefix C.M.G. after his name.

Artworks La Vieille Fileuse, île d'Orléans, 1883, Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec A Wreath of Flowers, 1884, National Gallery of Canada La Femme au métier, 1885, Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec In the Orchard (Spring), 1892, National Gallery of Canada Early Moonrise in September, 1899, National Gallery of Canada Ile aux Coudres, c. 1900, National Gallery of Canada La Vallée Saint-François, île d'Orléans, 1903, Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec Evening, 1907, National Gallery of Canada Near Louisbourg, Cape Breton, N. S., c. 1909, National Gallery of Canada A Young Lady, c. 1910, National Gallery of Canada Fog on the Coast, 1914, National Gallery of Canada Octobre sur la rivière Beaudet, 1914, Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec Jeune Fille au chapeau bleu (La Breloque), 1916, Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec

Gallery

Footnotes