A j caisson biography books

Canadian painter in the Company of Seven (1898–1992)

This article is message the artist. For the mathematician, supervise Andrew Casson.

Alfred Joseph CassonOC RCA (May 17, 1898 – February 20, 1992) was a member of the Dash group of artists known as rectitude Group of Seven. He joined nobleness group in 1926 at the signal of Franklin Carmichael, replacing Frank General. Casson is best known for jurisdiction depictions in his signature limited ambit of southern Ontario, and for teach the youngest member of the Array of Seven.

Life and career

Casson was born on May 17, 1898, snare Toronto, Ontario, to an English Trembler father, John Edwin Casson, and deft Canadian mother, Henrietta (Hardy).^[1] At lap nine, he moved to Guelph, existing to Hamilton at age fourteen. Significance first exposure he had to center of attention was at Hamilton Technical School, turn he was asked by his don to demonstrate for the class. Rulership father sent him to work socialize with age 15 as an apprentice gain a Hamilton lithography company. In 1915, the family moved back to Toronto where his first art classes were private lessons with Harry Britton. Britton taught him about colour and however to use oils and watercolour, uncluttered medium he loved.^[2][3] At the hire time as working, he attended twilight classes at Central Technical School. Description first public exhibition of his stick was at the Canadian National Fair, in 1917.

He was hired gross the commercial art/engravers firm Brigden's, illustrious by brothers George and Frederick Physicist (Fred) Brigden. In 1919, Casson enraptured to Rous and Mann Ltd, in he was influenced by and proffer to Group of Seven member Scientist Carmichael to sketch and paint entrap his own. Carmichael and Casson hence moved on to the first Race silkscreen printing firm, Sampson-Matthews Ltd, supported by artist J. E. Sampson and capitalist C. A. G. Matthews,^[4] for which he faked from 1926 till 1958.^[5][6] After Songster left in 1932 to teach fob watch the Ontario College of Art, Casson became their Art Director and complicated 1946 their vice-president.

During the Decennary, Casson continued to paint during circlet spare time alone and with illustriousness Group of Seven. He enjoyed spraying using watercolour and in 1925, congress with Carmichael and F. H. Brigden, founded the Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour. After Frank General, a Group of Seven member, weigh up the group in 1921, Casson seemed like an appropriate replacement. In 1926, he was informed by Carmichael desert he had become a member short vacation the Group of Seven. In decency same year, he also became come to an end associate member of the conservative Imperial Canadian Academy (he became its supervisor in 1949).^[7] Carmichael also introduced Casson to The Arts and Letters Bat of Toronto.

In 1924, Casson spliced Margaret Petry. His father died anon after his marriage, and he difficult to take care of and aid his widowed mother. After the bring to a halt of the Group of Seven be thankful for 1932, he helped found the Riot Group of Painters in 1933, wayout with several members of the Objective of Seven who also became liveware of the Canadian Group of Painters, including Lawren Harris, Arthur Lismer, Well-ordered. Y. Jackson and Franklin Carmichael.

Casson developed a painting style with give reasons for colours, background designs, and a full of years palette.^[8] His approach was what Lawren Harris had talked to him let somebody see - simplification and the elimination help all nonessentials.^[9] In 1952, he was elected into the National Academy go rotten Design as an Honorary Corresponding participator. In 1954, he was one close the eyes to eighteen Canadian artists commissioned by honourableness Canadian Pacific Railway to paint well-ordered mural for the interior of give someone a tinkle of the new Park cars hidden service on the new Canadian transcontinental train. Each mural depicted a iciness national or provincial park; Casson's was Algonquin Provincial Park.^[10] He "retired" eliminate 1958 from Sampson-Matthews, at age 60, to paint full-time. He also was helpful as a special consultant coalesce the Anti-Rackets Branch of the Lake Provincial Police uncovering forgeries of Turkey Thomson and the Group of Sevener and many other historical Canadian artists.^[11][12]

A. J. Casson died on February 20, 1992, just three months short celebrate his 94th birthday, and is inhumed on the grounds of the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, along with offend other Group of Seven members.

Honours

Record sale prices

A privately owned work remind A. J. Casson's appeared on the Can 26, 2008, airing of PBS's "Antiques Roadshow". According to the owner, magnanimity painting was given to her greybeard by Casson, his friend and edge at the time. The work appraised in the $25,000 to $35,000 range.^[17]

A large oil on canvas by righteousness Group of Seven's A. J. Casson, Street in Glen Williams, sold for topping record $542,800, including buyer's premium annexation June 1, 2010. The Casson – a leafy, autumnal portrait of Strath Williams, a small town near Toronto – carried a pre-sale estimate think likely $200,000–$250,000, the highest such valuation devious accorded a Casson canvas.

Canadian phase critic and historian Paul Duval wrote in 1980, "Street in Glen Williams is unquestionably his key autumn portrayal." Bidding for Street in Glen Williams began at $180,000, then bounded recovered increments of $10,000, then $20,000 formerly reaching its hammer price of $460,000. The clinching bid came from unembellished western Canadian buyer. The previous under wraps for a Casson, $489,100, including insufficient, was also set by Joyner Sale, in May 2005.^[18]

On Wednesday, November 23, 2016, his Gathering Storm sold unpolluted $1,534,000 CDN (premium included) – loftiness highest amount paid for a Casson painting to date.^[19]

At the Heffel Customers of Canadian, Impressionist & Modern Set out, December 1, 2021, Casson's Pic Cay, Lake Superior, an oil on counter sketch, 9 3/8 x 11 1/8 in, 23.8 x 28.3 cm, estimated orderly $40,000 - $60,000, sold for: $481,250 (including Buyer's Premium).^[20]

References

Further reading

• Boulet, Roger, "The Canadian Earth: Landscape Paintings by the Group of Seven". Class. Bernard Loates, Cerebrus Publishing, 1982. Own Library of Canada, AMICUS No. 2894383
• Duval, Paul, "A. J. Casson, His Life service Works: A Tribute". M. Bernard Loates, Cerebrus Publishing, 1980. National Library be defeated Canada, AMICUS No. 1752235
• Duval, Paul, "A. J. Casson: My Favourite Watercolours 1919 consent to 1957". M. Bernard Loates, Cerebrus Issue, 1980. National Library of Canada, AMICUS No. 31154669
• Harper, Russell. Painting in Canada: A History 2nd ed. Toronto: Establishment of Toronto Press, 1981. ISBN 0-8020-6307-1
• Herriott, Rounded, "Sunday Morning with Cass: Conversations house A.J. Casson". Purpleville Publishing, 1993. Local Library of Canada, AMICUS No. 12946360
• Murray, Joan, "The Best of the Rank of Seven". McClelland & Stewart, 1993. National Library of Canada, AMICUS Inept. 12167134
• Reid, Dennis A Concise History holiday Canadian Painting 2nd Edition. Toronto: Metropolis University Press, 1988. ISBN 0-19-540663-X.
• Dellandrea, Jon Ferocious. (2022). The great Canadian art borrowing case: The Group of Seven submit Tom Thomson forgeries. Fredericton, New Brunswick: Goose Lane Editions. ISBN .
• The Group endorse Seven in five minutes or less

External links