William BrymnerLife & Work

“William Brymner rejected the notion of copying other styles of art and focused on the creation of a uniquely Canadian art. This resistance is critical to the diversity of his work and to his legacy as an art teacher. In imparting this enthusiasm to his students, he inspired a generation.”

– Jocelyn Anderson

William Brymner: Life & Work tells the story of this Scottish-born painter who was driven by a desire for innovative subject matter and a commitment to ongoing self-improvement. His education began with early travels to Paris, where he worked for the Canadian section of the Paris exposition and studied at the Académie Julian. He absorbed the latest art trends and developed an enduring thirst for travel. Once back home, he rode on the first complete Canadian Pacific Railway line and documented the colonial realities of his time. He then settled into his lifelong role as master of the School at the Art Association of Montreal. There, he imparted his worldly learnings, his love of adventure, and above all his understanding of the modern in art to his students, many of whom would go on to alter the course of Canadian art.

Author Jocelyn Anderson shines an unprecedented light on Brymner’s storied career. By turning to his many letters and drawing insights from unpublished first-hand accounts of his travels in Europe and Western Canada, this book is a fresh reflection on the life and work of an artist who had an unparalleled influence on the country at the turn of the twentieth century.

Copyright Information

Banner Image: A Wreath of Flowers, 1884. Collection of the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, Royal Canadian Academy of Arts diploma work, deposited by the artist, Ottawa, 1886.