John Russell Harper
Encyclopedia
John Russell Harper, OC
, FRSC
(April 13, 1914 – November 17, 1983) was an eminent Canadian
art historian
who is considered to have pioneered the field of art history in Canada.
Harper was born at Caledonia, Ontario
43°4′26"N 79°57′7"W. he worked for some time as a primary school teacher before studying at the Ontario School of Art from 1938 to 1940. During World War II
he served, alongside his future wife Mary Elizabeth Goodchild, as a radar
mechanic for the Royal Canadian Air Force
in Canada and England. After the war, he enrolled at the University of Toronto
and received a B.A.
in 1948 and an M.A.
in 1950 in art and archeology.
In the 1950s, he became the chief cataloguer of the Royal Ontario Museum
, and in 1951, he moved to Saint John, New Brunswick
, to work for the New Brunswick Museum
.
After archaeological fieldwork for the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
, he reported in 1959 on the potential for restoration of the fortress at Louisbourg, Nova Scotia
.
From 1959 to 1963, he was the curator of Canadian art at the National Gallery of Canada
, and from 1965 to 1968 the chief curator of the McCord Museum of McGill University
. From 1965 until his retirement in 1979 he lectured as a professor of art history at Concordia University in Montreal
.
Beginning in the 1960s, he specialized in the study of Canadian painting. His 1966 Painting in Canada: a History was the first comprehensive overview of the field. Subsequent works include the ground-breaking studies on Paul Kane
(Paul Kane's Frontier, 1971) and Cornelius Krieghoff
(Krieghoff, 1979). His later interests centered on Canadian folk art
.
JRH was a member of the board of the Journal of Canadian Art History from 1974 through '83, and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Literature from the University of Guelph
in 1972 and Doctor of Fine Arts from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University
in 1982. Among other awards he was made a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
in 1974; and also in that year became an Officer of the Order of Canada
.
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...
, FRSC
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
(April 13, 1914 – November 17, 1983) was an eminent 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...
art historian
Art history
Art history has historically been understood as the academic study of objects of art in their historical development and stylistic contexts, i.e. genre, design, format, and style...
who is considered to have pioneered the field of art history in Canada.
Harper was born at Caledonia, Ontario
Caledonia, Ontario
Caledonia is a small riverside community and former town located on the Grand River in Haldimand County, Ontario, Canada. Haldimand County is in the western part of the Niagara Peninsula, and had a population of 43,280 in 2001. The current mayor of Haldimand County is Ken Hewitt; Caledonia is...
43°4′26"N 79°57′7"W. he worked for some time as a primary school teacher before studying at the Ontario School of Art from 1938 to 1940. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he served, alongside his future wife Mary Elizabeth Goodchild, as a radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
mechanic for the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
in Canada and England. After the war, he enrolled at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
and received a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1948 and an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in 1950 in art and archeology.
In the 1950s, he became the chief cataloguer of the Royal Ontario Museum
Royal Ontario Museum
The Royal Ontario Museum is a museum of world culture and natural history in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. With its main entrance facing Bloor Street in Downtown Toronto, the museum is situated north of Queen's Park and east of Philosopher's Walk in the University of Toronto...
, and in 1951, he moved to Saint John, New Brunswick
Saint John, New Brunswick
City of Saint John , or commonly Saint John, is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, and the first incorporated city in Canada. The city is situated along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. In 2006 the city proper had a population of 74,043...
, to work for the New Brunswick Museum
New Brunswick Museum
The New Brunswick Museum, located in Saint John, New Brunswick is Canada's oldest continuing museum. The New Brunswick Museum was officially incorporated as the "Provincial Museum" in 1929 and received its current name in 1930, but its history goes back much further. Its lineage can be traced back...
.
After archaeological fieldwork for the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
The Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for policies relating to Aboriginal peoples...
, he reported in 1959 on the potential for restoration of the fortress at Louisbourg, Nova Scotia
Louisbourg, Nova Scotia
Louisbourg is a community in Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Regional Municipality.-History:The town's name was given by French military forces who founded the Fortress of Louisbourg and its fortified seaport on the southwest part of the harbour, in honour of Louis XV...
.
From 1959 to 1963, he was the curator of Canadian art at the National Gallery of Canada
National Gallery of Canada
The National Gallery of Canada , located in the capital city Ottawa, Ontario, is one of Canada's premier art galleries.The Gallery is now housed in a glass and granite building on Sussex Drive with a notable view of the Canadian Parliament buildings on Parliament Hill. The acclaimed structure was...
, and from 1965 to 1968 the chief curator of the McCord Museum of McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
. From 1965 until his retirement in 1979 he lectured as a professor of art history at Concordia University in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
.
Beginning in the 1960s, he specialized in the study of Canadian painting. His 1966 Painting in Canada: a History was the first comprehensive overview of the field. Subsequent works include the ground-breaking studies on Paul Kane
Paul Kane
Paul Kane was an Irish-born Canadian painter, famous for his paintings of First Nations peoples in the Canadian West and other Native Americans in the Oregon Country....
(Paul Kane's Frontier, 1971) and Cornelius Krieghoff
Cornelius Krieghoff
Cornelius David Krieghoff is probably the most popular Canadian painter of the 19th century. Krieghoff is most famous for his paintings of Canadian landscapes and Canadian life outdoors, which were sought-after in his own time as they are today. He is particularly famous for his winter scenes,...
(Krieghoff, 1979). His later interests centered on Canadian folk art
Folk art
Folk art encompasses art produced from an indigenous culture or by peasants or other laboring tradespeople. In contrast to fine art, folk art is primarily utilitarian and decorative rather than purely aesthetic....
.
JRH was a member of the board of the Journal of Canadian Art History from 1974 through '83, and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Literature from the University of Guelph
University of Guelph
The University of Guelph, also known as U of G, is a comprehensive public research university in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1964 after the amalgamation of Ontario Agricultural College, the Macdonald Institute, and the Ontario Veterinary College...
in 1972 and Doctor of Fine Arts from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University
Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University
NSCAD University also known as the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, is a post-secondary art school located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada....
in 1982. Among other awards he was made a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
in 1974; and also in that year became an Officer of the Order of Canada
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...
.
Selected works
- Painting in Canada: a History, University of Toronto Press, 1966. Reprinted 1977. ISBN 0-8020-6307-1.
- Paul Kane's Frontier, University of Texas Press, Austin, TX; 1971. ISBN 0-292-70110-1.
- A People's Art: Primitive, Naïve, Provincial, and Folk Painting in Canada, University of Toronto Press, 1974. ISBN 0-8020-2153-0 .
- Krieghoff, University of Toronto Press, 1979. ISBN 0-8020-2348-7.