From the Author
I was honoured to be asked to write a book about Alex Colville for the Art Canada Institute, and I would like to thank Sara Angel and Anna Hudson for the opportunity. I want to acknowledge the work of so many scholars and curators before me, whose research was invaluable in developing this project. In particular, the insights and approaches of David Burnett, Mark Cheetham, Helen J. Dow, Philp Fry, Andrew Hunter, and Tom Smart, in their excellent books on Colville, were invaluable in my research. The staff at the ACI were unfailingly helpful and professional, and I would like to thank the team led by Kendra Ward for making this book possible. My editor, Shannon Anderson, was a pleasure to work with, and her care and attention made this a much better project. Finally, I would like to thank Ann Kitz, and the entire Colville family, for being so helpful and accommodating with this book project, which could not have existed without their support.
From the Art Canada Institute
This online art book was made possible thanks to its Title Sponsor: Kiki and Ian Delaney. Much gratitude goes to the Founding Sponsor for the Art Canada Institute: BMO Financial Group.
The Art Canada Institute gratefully acknowledges its other sponsors for the 2017–18 Season: Aimia, Alexandra Bennett in memory of Jalynn Bennett, Consignor Canadian Fine Art, Richard and Donna Ivey, the six children of Betty-Ann McNicoll-Elliott and R. Fraser Elliott, The Sabourin Family Foundation, Sandra L. Simpson, and TD Bank Group.
Thanks also to the Art Canada Institute Founding Patrons: Jalynn H. Bennett, Butterfield Family Foundation, David and Vivian Campbell, Albert E. Cummings, Kiki and Ian Delaney, Jon S. and Lyne Dellandrea, the Fleck family, Roger and Kevin Garland, Gershon Iskowitz Foundation, Glorious & Free Foundation, The Scott Griffin Foundation, Michelle Koerner and Kevin Doyle, Jane Huh, Phil Lind, Sarah and Tom Milroy, Nancy McCain and Bill Morneau, Gerald Sheff and Shanitha Kachan, Sandra L. Simpson, Stephen Smart, Pam and Mike Stein, Nalini and Tim Stewart, Robin and David Young, Sara and Michael Angel; its Visionary Patrons: Connor, Clark & Lunn Foundation and Lawson Hunter; as well as its Founding Partner Patrons: The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation and Partners in Art.
The ACI gratefully acknowledges the support and assistance of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia (Shannon Parker, Troy Wagner); Art Gallery of Ontario (Stephanie Burdzy, Tracy Mallon-Jenson, Marilyn Nazar); Beaverbrook Art Gallery (Sarah Dick); Bridgeman Images (Addie Warner); Canadian War Museum (Susan Ross); Galerie d’art Louise-et-Reuben-Cohen, Université de Moncton (Nisk Imbeault); Harbour Publishing (Howard White); Library and Archives Canada; Maclean’s magazine (Liz Sullivan and Nicole Wynter); McMichael Canadian Art Collection (Alexandra Cousins); Menil Foundation (Margaret McKee); Mira Godard Gallery (Gisella Giacalone); Mount Allison University Archives (David Wawhinney); National Gallery of Canada (Raven Amiro); New Regency Productions (Lisa Seed); Nimbus Publishing (Terilee Bulger); Owens Art Gallery, Mount Allison University (Roxamy Ibbitson, Jane Tisdale); Penguin Random House Canada (Dana Francoeur); SODRAC (Maude Pelletier); Stephen Bulger Gallery (Robyn Zolnai); Studio of Eric Fischl (Catherine Tafur); The Rooms (Mireille Eagan); Whitney Museum of American Art (Anita Duquette, Micah Musheno); and John Chambers, William Eakin, Brenda Kielley, Ann Kitz, Frankie Macaulay, Margot Mackay, Harry Palmer, Christopher Pratt, and Mary Pratt.
Image Sources
Every effort has been made to secure permissions for all copyrighted material. The Art Canada Institute will gladly correct any errors or omissions.
Key Works: Nude and Dummy, 1950. (See below for details.)
Significance & Critical Issues: Alex Colville, Horse and Girl, 1984. (See below for details.)
Style & Technique: Kiss with Honda, 1989. (See below for details.)
Sources & Resources: Alex Colville in his studio, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, 1983. Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (R11224-4384-1-F). Photo credit: Walter Curtin, Library and Archives Canada.
A Colville family portrait, 1951. From left to right: John, Graham, Alex, Rhoda, Ann, and Charles. Courtesy of the Colville Family.
A Sunday on La Grande Jatte – 1884, 1884–86, by Georges Seurat. Collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, Helen Birch Bartlett Memorial Collection (1926.224).
Adam and Eve, 1504, by Albrecht Durer. Collection of the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, purchased 1957 (no. 6878). Photo credit: National Gallery of Canada.
Alex and Rhoda Colville on their wedding day 1942. The couple are pictured in front of Rhoda’s family home in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, where they lived from 1973 until 1998. Courtesy of the Colville Family.
Alex and Rhoda Colville, with Min, outside their home in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, 1988. Courtesy of the Colville Family. Photo credit: Guido Mangold.
Alex Colville, age eleven, near Tidnish, Nova Scotia, where his family had a summer cottage. Courtesy of the Colville Family.
Alex Colville, age eighteen, with his parents, David and Florence. Courtesy of the Colville Family.
Alex Colville, C.C., 1986. Photograph by Harry Palmer.
Colville working on his painting Bodies in a Grave, 1946. Courtesy of the Colville Family.
Cover of Maclean’s magazine featuring “The World of Alex Colville,” August 1, 1983. Used with permission of Rogers Media Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Expulsion from the Garden of Eden, c. 1426–28 (altered in 1680, restored in 1980), by Masaccio. Brancacci Chapel, Santa Maria del Carmine, Florence.
First-year portrait class taught by Stanley Royle. Alex Colville stands at easel, far right. Mount Allison University Archives, Sackville (2007.07/501).
Incoming Tide, Peggy’s Cove, 1935, by Stanley Royle. Collection of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Halifax, gift of Willard Strug, Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2005 (2005.490).
Riderless Horse in President John F. Kennedy’s Funeral Procession to St. Matthew’s Cathedral, November 25, 1963. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston (KN-C30749). Photo credit: Robert Knudson.
Lieutenant D. Alex Colville, War Artist, Third Canadian Infantry Division, Germany, March 4, 1945. Department of National Defence Archives, Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (PA-206003). Photograph by Lieut. Barney J. Gloster.
Niccolò Mauruzi da Tolentino at the Battle of San Romano, c. 1438–40, by Paolo Uccello. Collection of The National Gallery, London, purchased 1857 (NG583).
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