James Duncan (artist)
James Duncan | |
|---|---|
 James Duncan, artist, Montreal, QC, 1863 | |
| Born | James D. Duncan 1806 Coleraine, Ireland |
| Died | September 28, 1881 (aged 74–75) Montreal, Quebec |
| Known for | painter, lithographer, and teacher |
| Spouse | Caroline Benedict Power (m. 1834) |
James D. Duncan (1806 – September 28, 1881), the first Irish artist to emigrate to
He is considered the major chronicler of early
His genre scenes of Montreal recorded sporting events, parades, fires, market vendors, sleighing and ice-cutting, among other subjects such as his Ice Pile, Montreal, in the Peter Winkworth Collection of the Library and Archives Canada.[2][3]
His
Early life and career
Duncan was born in Coleraine, Northern Ireland and grew up in Ireland where he was trained as an artist. In 1825, he emigrated to Lower Canada. By 1830 he was known in Montreal as an artist and teacher.[2]
Duncan developed from classical ideals influenced by his training to a topographical approach and the Picturesque aesthetic ideal. After the early 1850s, his watercolors became more colorful.[2]
He was a favorite artist of Montreal Mayor Jacques Viger. From 1831 to 1853, Viger commissioned Duncan to make a series of Montreal views (1831) and gave him later commissions for portraits (1839–1845) and illustrations (1845 and 1853).[2] Duncan also produced drawings for Hochelaga Devicta: The Early History and Present State of the City and Island of Montréal (1839), a Montreal guide book.[3]
Among his prints, the most notable set of single-sheet prints are six Montreal views made into
In 1864, he became involved in Duncan and Company, "lithographic printers and engravers and draughtsmen". In 1879, he went to England and Scotland, and acting as an agent, seems to have purchased works of art for collectors. In 1880, he returned to Montreal where he died late in 1881.[2]
Duncan taught drawing part-time at various Montreal institutions and gave private lessons. He was known as a conscientious teacher.[2][3]
Selected public exhibitions
Duncan exhibited work at the
Selected public collections
Forty of his works are in the McCord Museum.[2] His work is also in the collection of the National Gallery of Canada,[5] the Royal Ontario Museum[6] and Library and Archives Canada.[7]
Memberships
In 1837, Duncan was a lieutenant in the Montreal Light Infantry.[3]
In 1847, Duncan was one of the founders, along with
References
- ^ a b "Exhibitions". www.musee-mccord-stewart.ca. McCord Museum, Montreal. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Todd, Patricia A. "Article". www.biographi.ca. Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 11, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f Allodi, Mary. "Article". www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
- ^ "Collection". www.gallery.ca. National Gallery of Canada. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
- ^ "Collection". www.gallery.ca. National Gallery of Canada. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
- ^ "Collection". colllections.rom.on.ca. Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
- ^ "Collection". recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 30 July 2023.