Key Works

William Brymner (1855–1925) was committed to personal innovation throughout his career. An enthusiastic traveller, Brymner was known for landscapes that depict places in Canada and Europe, yet he also created portraits, female nudes, and seascapes. Although today he is remembered for his oil paintings, he was highly regarded for his work in watercolour as well. The following selection reveals how Brymner rejected the notion of emulating a specific artistic style even though he was interested in a range of painters, from the Old Masters to his Canadian contemporaries. This conviction explains the diversity of his work and his important legacy as an art teacher with the Art Association of Montreal.