J.E.H. MacDonald 1873-1932
MacDonald, one of Canada's outstanding artists, lived here 1913-1932. Born in Durham, England, of Canadian parents, he came with his family to Hamilton in 1887. Though his formal art training was limited, he became one of the founders of the “Group of Seven” and participated in most of its exhibitions. MacDonald's impressive painting, “A Tangled Garden”, shown in the 1916 Ontario Society of Artists exhibition, strongly indicated the development of his later style. In 1929 he was appointed Principal of the Ontario College of Art, a position he held until his death. His extraordinary sense of colour and design vividly interpreted the Canadian landscape in such outstanding paintings as “The Elements”, “The Solemn Land” and “Mountain Snowfall, Lake Oesa”.
Erected by Archaeological and Historic Sites Board, Ministry of Colleges and Universities.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Education. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1913.
Location. 43° 48.924′ N, 79° 25.694′ W. Marker is in Vaughan, Ontario, in York Region. It is in Thornhill. It is at the intersection of Centre Street and Thornbank
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Regionally, this marker is in Greater Toronto, specifically on the Golden Horseshoe, in the York, Durham and Headwaters Area, and in the Toronto Metropolitan Area. It is also in Central Canada. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony, the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and Rupert’s Land.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Holy Trinity Church (about 150 meters away, measured in a direct line); Yonge Street Hill (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Mason Cogswell's Wagon Yard (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); The Founding of Thornhill (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church (approx. 6.3 kilometers away); The Founding of Richmond Hill (approx. 7 kilometers away); St. Andrew’s Church (approx. 7.8 kilometers away); 9980 Keele Street (approx. 8 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Vaughan.
More about this marker. Both sides of this marker have the same English inscription.
Also see . . .
1. James Edward Hervey MacDonald (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: English-Canadian artist, best known as a member of the Group of Seven who asserted a distinct national identity combined with a common heritage stemming from early modernism in Europe in the early twentieth century. He was the father of the illustrator, graphic artist and designer Thoreau(Submitted on August 29, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)MacDonald.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 3, 20242. J.E.H. MacDonald 1873-1932 Marker (south side)The south side of the marker is obscured by trees.In 1920, MacDonald co-founded the Group of Seven, which dedicated itself to promoting a distinct Canadian art developed through direct contact with the Canadian landscape. The other founding members were Frederick Varley, A. Y. Jackson, Lawren Harris, Frank Johnston, Arthur Lismer, and Franklin Carmichael. Together they initiated what they asserted was the first major Canadian national art movement, producing paintings directly inspired by the Canadian landscape. In 1921, MacDonald was appointed instructor in decorative art and commercial design at the Ontario College of Art and his teaching commitments somewhat curtailed his painting activities. However, every summer from 1924 until 1930, MacDonald travelled to the Canadian Rockies to paint the mountain landscapes that dominated his later work.
Today, MacDonald is viewed with general admiration for his art, with one writer commenting, "no Canadian landscape painter possessed a richer command of colour and pigment than J. E. H. MacDonald ... His brushwork is at once disciplined and vigorous. His best on-the-spot sketches possess an intensity and freshness of execution not dissimilar from Van Gogh." His former home and 4-acre garden in Vaughan, Ontario have been restored. Owned by the City of Vaughan, they are open to the public.
2. The MacDonald House: In the Footsteps of an Artist (by Blair Francey).
Excerpt: If you’re familiar with the famous Canadian group of landscape artists known as the Group of Seven, then the MacDonald House may be of more interest to you than you initially thought. One of the core group members, J.E.H. MacDonald, purchased the house in 1914 and it stayed in the family until about 1974 under the ownership of MacDonald’s son, Thoreau MacDonald. While the band of artists was known to take inspiration out of Algonquin Park and other scenic areas which are not too far from York Region, having this connection to such a significant part of Canadian history so close to home [Thornhill] is almost hard to believe.(Submitted on August 29, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)While MacDonald himself and his family occupied the house for just over half a century, the home was known to be a popular hangout spot for the rest of the group. Other famous painters like Franklin Carmichael and Arthur Lismer, also part of the Group of Seven, were known to frequent the home on a regular basis. MacDonald’s own great niece once said in an interview that, “every single member of the Group of Seven has been there at one time or another.” Here they would meet to talk about life and art, and
sometimes, even take a brush to a canvas.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 3, 20244. MacDonald House MarkerLooking southeast from Centre Street; the Ontario historical marker is visible next to the fence, on the far left.
3. J. E. H. MacDonald Artworks Gallery (wikiart.org). (Submitted on August 29, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 29, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 28, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 235 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 29, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
