A. J. Casson
Encyclopedia
Alfred Joseph Casson, OC
(May 17, 1898 - February 20, 1992) was a member of the Canadian
group of painters known as the Group of Seven
. He joined the group in 1926 at the invitation of Franklin Carmichael
. Casson is best known for his depictions of landscapes, forests and farms of southern Ontario
, and for being the youngest member of the Group of Seven.
Quaker father and a Canadian mother. At age 9 he moved to Guelph
and to Hamilton
at age 14. He left school early at age 15 to work as an apprentice at a Hamilton
lithography
company. At the same time, he studied art at Central Technical School
. Casson left Hamilton at age 17 and moved to Toronto
. The first public exhibition of his work was at the Canadian National Exhibition
, in 1917. He was hired by the commercial art/ engravers firm Brigden's. Owned by George and Fredrick Brigden (brothers)
At Brigdens, Alfred was influenced and apprenticed by Group of Seven member Franklin Carmichael
to sketch and paint on his own. Carmichael introduced Casson to The Arts and Letters Club of Toronto
, where he met many well-known artists, including other Group of Seven members.
During the 1920s, Casson continued to paint during his spare time alone and with the Group of Seven. Alfred enjoyed watercolour and in 1925 along with Carmichael and F.H. Brigden (Fredrick), founded the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour.
After Frank Johnston
, a Group of Seven member, left the group in 1921, Casson seemed like an appropriate replacement. Later in 1926, he was invited by Carmichael to become a Group of Seven member. Casson joined excitedly. He left Brigden's Ltd. in 1927 and joined Sampson Matthews. He became their art director and later their vice-president.
In 1929 Casson married a woman named Margaret. His father died shortly after his marriage, and he had to take care of and support his widowed mother. After the ending of the Group of Seven, he co-founded the Canadian Group of Painters
in 1933. Several members of the Group of Seven later became members of the Canadian Group of Painters
including Lawren Harris
, A. J. Casson
, Arthur Lismer
, A. Y. Jackson
, and Franklin Carmichael
.
Casson developed a painting style with clear colours and background designs. Alfred "retired" in 1957 at age 60 but continued to paint full time.
During his career, a number of books were published that celebrated his works. In 1979, Casson began a long-term publishing relationship with M. Bernard Loates
that would last until his death.
A.J. Casson died in 1992 at age 93 and is buried on the grounds of the McMichael Canadian Art Collection
, along with six other Group of Seven members.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(May 17, 1898 - February 20, 1992) was a member of the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
group of painters known as the Group of Seven
Group of Seven (artists)
The Group of Seven, sometimes known as the Algonquin school, were a group of Canadian landscape painters from 1920-1933, originally consisting of Franklin Carmichael , Lawren Harris , A. Y. Jackson , Franz Johnston , Arthur Lismer , J. E. H. MacDonald , and Frederick Varley...
. He joined the group in 1926 at the invitation of Franklin Carmichael
Franklin Carmichael
Franklin Carmichael was a Canadian artist. He was the youngest original member of the Group of Seven.-Biography:The youngest of the Group of Seven, Franklin Carmichael was born in 1890. His father was a carriage maker...
. Casson is best known for his depictions of landscapes, forests and farms of southern Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, and for being the youngest member of the Group of Seven.
Biography
Alfred was born in Toronto, Ontario, in 1898 to an EnglishEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Quaker father and a Canadian mother. At age 9 he moved to Guelph
Guelph
Guelph is a city in Ontario, Canada.Guelph may also refer to:* Guelph , consisting of the City of Guelph, Ontario* Guelph , as the above* University of Guelph, in the same city...
and to Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
at age 14. He left school early at age 15 to work as an apprentice at a Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
lithography
Lithography
Lithography is a method for printing using a stone or a metal plate with a completely smooth surface...
company. At the same time, he studied art at Central Technical School
Central Technical School
Central Technical School is a composite high school located at 725 Bathurst Street at Harbord Street in Toronto, Canada.C.T.S. offers a wide range of programs, including all core academic courses, as well as concentration and specialization in visual arts and technical studies. C.T.S...
. Casson left Hamilton at age 17 and moved to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. The first public exhibition of his work was at the Canadian National Exhibition
Canadian National Exhibition
Canadian National Exhibition , also known as The Ex, is an annual event that takes place at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada during the 18 days leading up to and including Labour Day Monday. With an attendance of approximately 1.3 million visitors each season, it is Canada’s largest...
, in 1917. He was hired by the commercial art/ engravers firm Brigden's. Owned by George and Fredrick Brigden (brothers)
At Brigdens, Alfred was influenced and apprenticed by Group of Seven member Franklin Carmichael
Franklin Carmichael
Franklin Carmichael was a Canadian artist. He was the youngest original member of the Group of Seven.-Biography:The youngest of the Group of Seven, Franklin Carmichael was born in 1890. His father was a carriage maker...
to sketch and paint on his own. Carmichael introduced Casson to The Arts and Letters Club of Toronto
The Arts and Letters Club of Toronto
The Arts and Letters Club of Toronto is a private club in Toronto, Ontario which brings together writers, architects, musicians, painters, graphic artists, actors, and others working in or with a love of the arts....
, where he met many well-known artists, including other Group of Seven members.
During the 1920s, Casson continued to paint during his spare time alone and with the Group of Seven. Alfred enjoyed watercolour and in 1925 along with Carmichael and F.H. Brigden (Fredrick), founded the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour.
After Frank Johnston
Frank Johnston (artist)
Frank Johnston was a Canadian artist associated with the Group of Seven.-Life and career:Frank Johnston was born in Toronto and like many other Group members, he joined Grip Ltd. as a commercial artist...
, a Group of Seven member, left the group in 1921, Casson seemed like an appropriate replacement. Later in 1926, he was invited by Carmichael to become a Group of Seven member. Casson joined excitedly. He left Brigden's Ltd. in 1927 and joined Sampson Matthews. He became their art director and later their vice-president.
In 1929 Casson married a woman named Margaret. His father died shortly after his marriage, and he had to take care of and support his widowed mother. After the ending of the Group of Seven, he co-founded the Canadian Group of Painters
Canadian Group of Painters
The Canadian Group of Painters was a collective of 28 painters from across Canada which came together as group in 1933. They succeeded the disbanded Group of Seven, whose paintings of the Canadian wilderness had been a strong influence on Canadian art....
in 1933. Several members of the Group of Seven later became members of the Canadian Group of Painters
Canadian Group of Painters
The Canadian Group of Painters was a collective of 28 painters from across Canada which came together as group in 1933. They succeeded the disbanded Group of Seven, whose paintings of the Canadian wilderness had been a strong influence on Canadian art....
including Lawren Harris
Lawren Harris
Lawren Stewart Harris, CC was a Canadian painter. He was born in Brantford, Ontario and is best known as a member the Group of Seven who pioneered a distinctly Canadian painting style in the early twentieth century. A. Y. Jackson has been quoted as saying that Harris provided the stimulus for the...
, A. J. Casson
A. J. Casson
Alfred Joseph Casson, OC was a member of the Canadian group of painters known as the Group of Seven. He joined the group in 1926 at the invitation of Franklin Carmichael...
, Arthur Lismer
Arthur Lismer
Arthur Lismer, CC was an English-born Canadian painter and member of the Group of Seven.-Early life:At age 13 he apprenticed at a photo-engraving company. He was awarded a scholarship, and used this time to take evening classes at the Sheffield School of Arts from 1898 until 1905...
, A. Y. Jackson
A. Y. Jackson
Alexander Young Jackson, was a Canadian painter and a founding member of the Group of Seven.- Early life and training :...
, and Franklin Carmichael
Franklin Carmichael
Franklin Carmichael was a Canadian artist. He was the youngest original member of the Group of Seven.-Biography:The youngest of the Group of Seven, Franklin Carmichael was born in 1890. His father was a carriage maker...
.
Casson developed a painting style with clear colours and background designs. Alfred "retired" in 1957 at age 60 but continued to paint full time.
During his career, a number of books were published that celebrated his works. In 1979, Casson began a long-term publishing relationship with M. Bernard Loates
M. Bernard Loates
M. Bernard Loates is a Canadian artist, lithographer and publisher in the manner of the private press movement. The private press movement refers to a printing press or publishing method that is artistic based, with great attention to detail as opposed to commercially based...
that would last until his death.
A.J. Casson died in 1992 at age 93 and is buried on the grounds of the McMichael Canadian Art Collection
McMichael Canadian Art Collection
The McMichael Canadian Art Collection is an art gallery in Kleinburg, Ontario, Canada, northwest of Toronto. It houses an extensive collection of paintings by Tom Thomson, the Group of Seven and their contemporaries, and First Nations and Inuit artists....
, along with six other Group of Seven members.