FREDERICK
ARTHUR
VERNER
(1836 -
1928)
Verner
was born in Sheridan. As a youth, he deeply admired Paul Kane and
based his decision to become a painter on this envy. To develop his
painting skills he looked towards England, going there in 1856, but
ended up in the military. In 1862, he returned to Toronto,
befriending Paul Kane, who was in retirement. Except for one year,
1855, when he was in New York working on photography and painting,
Verner spent the decade living in Toronto. Like his mentor, Verner
focused on Indian subjects for his paintings. By 1870, he was
painting large scale oil landscapes, expressing a calmness and
glorious peace. However, unlike Kane, Verner did not travel
extensively in search of his subjects; he may not have voyaged to the
Prairies but he painted them with feeling. In 1880, he moved to
London where he lived for the rest of his life.
In contrast to
other artists who shared in this genre, Verner had a clear
understanding of the qualities of light and colour. Like John Fraser
and John O'Brien, his contemporaries in Toronto, Verner was entranced by
the profound sweep of the Canadian sky. They were the first to
understand the experience of the Canadian land, but they would soon be
replaced by a younger and more versatile group of artists who studied
in Paris to equip themselves with the necessary skills and approach to
express their sense of being a Canadian artist.
Among Verner'
works are Indian Encampment at Sunset (1873), Sunset on the Muskoka
(1881), The Upper Ottawa (1882).
Sunset on Muskoka
(1881) |
Welcome
| FrontDesk
|Perspectives
| Previous Page
| AGO Info