Eric Brown (art director)

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Eric Brown (1877–1939) was the first Director of the National Gallery of Canada. His tenure was from 1910–1939.[1]

Career and biography[]

Eric Brown was born in Nottingham, England in 1877. His brother was the British landscape painter Sir Arnesby Brown (1866–1955). In 1909, Brown immigrated to Canada at the invitation of F.R. Heaton (1866–1939), head of W. Scott and Sons, Montreal art dealers. Upon his arrival, Brown superintended a loan exhibition of British paintings in Montreal and worked for the Art Gallery of Toronto. While in Montreal and Toronto, Brown met Sir Edmund Walker (1848–1924), who hired him first to undertake work for the Toronto Art Association and then as both Secretary for the Advisory Arts Council and Curator of the National Gallery, Ottawa. In 1910, Brown married Florence Maud Sturton (1881–1978) of Holbeach, Lincolnshire, a teacher and graduate of Cambridge University.[2]

The National Gallery of Canada[]

In 1910, Brown was appointed as the first director of the National Gallery of Canada. Initially the gallery was a collection of the diploma works of academicians, supplemented by occasional gifts;[3] thus Brown's primary concern was the establishment of the Gallery and the building of its collections[2] as well as sending exhibitions and making extended loans to other museums across the country.[3] To these ends, Brown traveled across Canada and frequently in Europe and the United Kingdom, developing contacts with art historians, dealers, and advisors. His wife and historian, Maud Brown, was keenly interested in art and art education, and took an interest in establishing art education programs for children at the National Gallery.[2]

The Group of Seven[]

Brown was an early supporter of the Group of Seven, and began buying their paintings for the Gallery’s collection several years before the Group was officially established. Brown also made sure they were well represented in Canadian art shows at the Wembley Exhibition in England.[4]

See also[]

National Gallery of Canada Library and Archives, "Eric and Maud Brown fonds: Finding aid"

References[]

  1. ^ Lerner, Loren R. (Loren Ruth), 1948– (1991). Art and architecture in Canada : a bibliography and guide to the literature to 1981 = Art et architecture au Canada : bibliographie et guide de la documentation jusqu'en 1981. Williamson, Mary F. Toronto, Ont.: University of Toronto Press. ISBN 978-1-4426-7101-0. OCLC 244767030.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c Brown, Florence Maud (1967). Breaking Barriers : Eric Brown and the National Gallery. Ottawa: Society for Art Publications.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Boggs, Jean Sutherland (2006). "National Gallery of Canada". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  4. ^ "Group of Seven | The Canadian Encyclopedia". thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. Retrieved 2020-03-20.
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