William Brymner
William Brymner
1855 - 1925
CAC OSA PRCA RCA
Born in Greenock, Scotland, William Brymner moved to Melbourne, Quebec with his family in 1857. His father became Canada's first Dominion Archivist. Brymner first studied architecture in Ottawa, then went to Paris in 1878 for further studies in drawing and painting as part of his architectural training. While there, he decided to become an artist and enrolled at the Académie Julian. Art historian Paul Duval wrote that Brymner was "the first Canadian to study in Paris who later had a wide influence in Canada." His early work reflected an academic approach learned from French salon masters such as William Bouguereau, with subjects such as domestic figurative scenes. While in France, Brymner exhibited in 1885 with the Société des Artistes Français.

Brymner returned to Canada in 1886 and became Director of Art Classes at the Art Association of Montreal, where he taught until 1921. He was an influential teacher - he instructed artists who became well-known such as Clarence Gagnon, Edwin Holgate, Robert Pilot, Helen McNicoll and others - and he actively encouraged artists to pursue studies in Europe. By the end of the century, the influence of the Paris art scene was pervasive among Canadian artists.

In 1892, Brymner went west to paint the Rocky Mountains, commissioned by the Canadian Pacific Railway. In 1901, he painted in Venice, and in summer of 1908 in France on the Mediterranean coast in towns such as Martigues.

Brymner's mature style was one of open, light-filled atmospheric landscapes, in which he used lighter colours and looser brushwork. His work fused together his early academic approach with the new light and colour of Impressionism. Brymner associated with Canadian Impressionists James Wilson Morrice and Maurice Cullen, and in 1909 went on sketching trips with both artists around the Ile d'Orléans in Quebec.

Brymner was a member of the Canadian Art Club, an important early group based in Toronto. He was President of the Royal Canadian Academy from 1909 - 1921. In 1921 he retired from teaching and went on a trip to Europe, spending two years at Capri. He died in 1925 during a trip to England. His work in many museum collections, such as the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, the Quebec Provincial Museum and the National Gallery of Canada.
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Afternoon Tea by William Brymner sold for $35,400
William Brymner
Afternoon Tea
28 1/8 x 36 in, 71.4 x 91.4 cm
oil on canvas
Estimate: $25,000 - $35,000 CDN
Sold for: $35,400 CDN (premium included)
Fall 2014 - 2nd Session on Thursday, November 27, 2014
The Elms, Saint Eustache by William Brymner sold for $18,750
William Brymner
The Elms, Saint Eustache
24 x 19 1/2 in, 61 x 49.5 cm
oil on board
Estimate: $2,500 - $3,500 CDN
Sold for: $18,750 CDN (premium included)
Fine Canadian Art on Thursday, August 29, 2019
In the Selkirk Range by William Brymner sold for $13,800
William Brymner
In the Selkirk Range
14 x 20 7/8 in, 35.6 x 53 cm
oil on canvas on board
Estimate: $12,000 - $16,000 CDN
Sold for: $13,800 CDN (premium included)
May 2008 - 1st session on Saturday, May 31, 2008
The Farm by William Brymner sold for $10,625
William Brymner
The Farm
28 1/2 x 21 1/4 in, 72.4 x 54 cm
oil on canvas
Estimate: $7,000 - $9,000 CDN
Sold for: $10,625 CDN (premium included)
Fine Canadian Art on Saturday, June 02, 2018
Washing at the River's Edge by William Brymner sold for $8,625
William Brymner
Washing at the River's Edge
13 1/2 x 9 1/2 in, 34.3 x 24.1 cm
oil on panel
Estimate: $7,000 - $9,000 CDN
Sold for: $8,625 CDN (premium included)
May 2006 - 2nd Session on Saturday, May 27, 2006
Sailboat at Low Tide by William Brymner sold for $6,900
William Brymner
Sailboat at Low Tide
10 x 13 1/2 in, 25.4 x 34.3 cm
oil on panel
Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000 CDN
Sold for: $6,900 CDN (premium included)
Fine Canadian Art Fall 2004 on Thursday, November 25, 2004
Capri by William Brymner sold for $6,875
William Brymner
Capri
18 1/4 x 24 1/4 in, 46.4 x 61.6 cm
oil on canvas
Estimate: $2,500 - $3,500 CDN
Sold for: $6,875 CDN (premium included)
19th & Early 20th Century Art on Thursday, January 26, 2023
Ross Peak by William Brymner sold for $5,463
William Brymner
Ross Peak
14 1/2 x 21 1/4 in, 36.8 x 54 cm
oil on canvas
Estimate: $3,500 - $4,500 CDN
Sold for: $5,463 CDN (premium included)
Fine Canadian and Irish Art Fall 2003 on Friday, November 28, 2003
Camp in the Rockies by William Brymner sold for $5,313
William Brymner
Camp in the Rockies
15 1/2 x 21 1/2 in, 39.4 x 54.6 cm
oil on canvas board
Estimate: $4,000 - $6,000 CDN
Sold for: $5,313 CDN (premium included)
Fine Canadian Art on Thursday, November 28, 2019
In the Rockies by William Brymner sold for $4,720
William Brymner
In the Rockies
5 1/2 x 7 in, 14 x 17.8 cm
oil on panel
Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000 CDN
Sold for: $4,720 CDN (premium included)
January 2016 - 2nd Session on Thursday, January 28, 2016