National Treasure #52: Group of Seven

Hey, not all national treasures need to exhibit the high-brow artistry of Bobby Gimby’s Canada: the Group of Seven can qualify for some love, too.

Franklin Carmichael

Arthur Lismer

A.Y. Jackson

Frederick Varley

Lawren Harris

Frank Johnston

J.E.H. MacDonald

OK, by my count, that’s seven. But three more joined later (Casson, Holgate, FitzGerald), and Tom Thomson is generally considered a founding member although he died before the Group had its first exhibition.

Don’t trust Wikipedia? Then check out the McMichael Collection site, which clearly lists 11 members of the, ahem, Group of Seven.

Screenshot of McMichael Collection page on Group of Seven

Confused? Good. It’s art, damn it, and damned fine Canadian art at that.

 

 

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4 Responses to National Treasure #52: Group of Seven

  1. Jim Robertson says:

    Excellent choice ! Brings back memories (Must be getting old)
    Been to McMichael Collection many times when I lived in Toronto. Ken Thomson (if I may refer to him in the familiar) had a marvelous collection in his offices at King and Bay.
    Only a year ago ☺ when I was in Grade 11, I joined a group of 12 other students one evening for a talk with AY Jackson. Still have a recording of it somewhere…

    • Isabel Gibson says:

      Jim R – Wow – that’s a great connection. I’ve seen their work at the McMichael Collection in a town whose name I now forget. Otherwise, it’s an art-card exposure.

  2. Jim Robertson says:

    Kleinburg
    (where Pierre Berton called home when he left the North)

    Used to be a little town “way” north of Toronto, a nice day trip, now it is almost downtown Vaughan. (well I exaggerate a little, but not much)

    • Isabel Gibson says:

      Jim R – Ah. The last time I was there my first born was about 2. He’s now 44, so I guess it makes sense that Kleinburg would have changed, and Toronto would have grown/encroached.

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