The Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour meeting in the Library of the Grange, Toronto c. 1932. Left to right: Joachim Gauthier, Franklin Carmichael, A.J.Casson, Thomas W. MacLean and Conyers Barker.
Photograph by Charles Comfort.
Earliest Days CSPWC
From Aquarelle! By Rebecca Sisler
" …. A letter dated November 3, 1925, signed by Brigden, Casson and Carmichael, was sent out to a small group of potentially interested painters inviting them to a meeting to discuss the formation of a water colour society. The tone of the letter touched a common chord, stressing concern that the signs of revival of interest in water colour ‘may not stop at that alone, but be carried to the production of a more important work in that medium.’
Just over a week later on November 11, twelve men gathered in the Library of the Arts and Letters Club in Toronto in response to that letter. They were an interesting lot with their varied experience, running the gamut of many decades and levels of painting involvement. There was Robert Gagen, who at seventy-eight was an old veteran of the founding of the two principal arts societies, and who had a lifetime of commitment behind him as a highly able, transitional painter. There was C.W. Jefferys, the brilliant water colourist whose work became so widely known to the public through his historical illustrations. There were Fred S. Haines and L.A.C. Panton, both of them educators, as well as fine if widely differing painters. There were the ‘radicals,’ the Group of Seven members, Franklin Carmichael and Frank Johnston, along with their younger colleague A.J. Casson. There was Robert Holmes the painter of exquisite wild flower compositions. There were T.G. Greene, and Andre Lapine, lesser known but dedicated painters in the traditional vein. There was Fred Brigden, universally respected both for his talents as a businessman and as a past master of the purist watercolour technique.
The twelfth participant, J.E. Sampson, (a partner in the printing firm of Sampson Matthews) must’ have arrived late at the gathering for while he put forward motions and took part in all aspects of the meeting, he somehow neglected to sign the register, resulting in the subsequent omission of his name on the list of founding members compiled by the later generation. In principle three further name should have been included on that list. W.J. Phillips of Winnipeg, Paul Alfred of Ottawa and one lone woman, Florence H. McGillivary, also of Ottawa, had been alerted to the meeting, but doubtless because of distance has been unable to attend on such a short notice. However, their letters of support were noted in the minutes.
The proceedings were simple enough. After discussion, it was moved by A.J. Casson, and seconded by Frank Carmichael that the meeting form a society for 'the practice and encouragement of painting in water colour.’ It was passed unanimously and followed by the election of officers. In deference to his long years of contribution and achievement in the arts Robert Gagan was named Honorary President. F.H. Brigden, the ‘Dean,’ was chosen President, C.W. Jefferys was Vice President and Treasurer, Franklin Carmichael was Secretary, and Frank Johnson was Executive Member. An annual membership fee was set; it was five dollars.
The name itself anything but short and catchy - even the initials took practice to pronounce - was a conscious choice. It was meant to give notice that a society of painting in water colour was an organization to be taken seriously."
