Franklin Arbuckle, R.C.A.

Canadien, 1909-2001

Born: Canada: Ontario, Toronto 1909-02-17
Died: Canada: Ontario, Toronto 2001-09-12
Oeuvres
Franklin Arbuckle
1909 – 2001
Near Saint-Jovite
Huile sur panneau toile
12 x 16 in
CAD 1100
Franklin Arbuckle
1909 – 2001
Mansonville, Quebec
Huile sur panneau toile
12 x 16 in
CAD 1100
Franklin Arbuckle
1909-2001
Barn in winter
Huile sur toile contrecollée sur panneau
12 x 16 in
CAD 1200
oeuvres vendues
Franklin Arbuckle
1909 – 2001
Huile sur toile sur panneau
12 x 16 in
Vendue
Franklin Arbuckle
1909 – 2001
Cape Breton
Huile sur toile sur panneau
12 x 16 in
Vendue
Franklin Arbuckle
De Salvos Mill
Huile sur panneau
12 x 16 in
Vendue
Biographie
Arbuckle was a painter of tremendous merit who composed in a distinct and original style. His paintings are strong and original representations of the Canadian landscape and cityscape. The recipient of several awards, Arbuckle was, for many years, an instructor at the Ontario College of Art.

Born in Toronto, Ontario, Canadian artist George Franklin Arbuckle attended the Ontario College of Art from 1927 to 1930 where he studied under J.W. Beatty, F.S. Challener, J.E.H. MacDonald and others. In 1930, he left to establish his own studio and earned a living selling his paintings and teaching art classes. During World War II, Arbuckle decided to work as a commercial artist. He was employed by Bomac Engravers for several years in Ottawa and Montreal and returned to freelance work in 1944

During the war, he worked for the engraving firm Bomac, in Toronto in 1940 and 1941 and in Montréal from 1941 to 1944. His reputation as an illustrator was based on the knowledge of historical subjects that he depicted in series for Hudson’s Bay Company and commissions for Labatt Brewery, Distillers Corporation and Dow Chemicals. Arbuckle’s landscape paintings and busy cityscapes were reproduced on the covers of Maclean’s magazine, and he showed his work in important exhibitions in Canada and abroad. He also produced murals and tapestries for clients, including the Château Champlain Hotel, in Montréal.

Arbuckle was elected to the Ontario Society of Artists in 1933 and to the Association of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in 1936, finally becoming a full member in 1943. He spent most of his life in his native Toronto, with an interlude in Montreal from 1940 to 1958. His wife was fellow artist, Frances Ann Johnston and his father-in-law, Frank Johnston, was a founding member of the Group of Seven.

Studied at
Ontario College of Art 1928-30 under F.S. Haines, Franz Johnston, J.E.H. MacDonald, J.W. Beatty
Collections
Expositions
His solo shows include:
Art Gal., Tor. (1940);
Roberts Gallery, Tor. (1971) (1974) (1977) (1979) (1982) (1984) (1987) (1991);
Wallack Galleries, Ott. (1978);
Walter Klinkhoff Inc., Mtl. (1986) (1989), others.

As a member of the R.C.A. he exhibited with them continually and held office (ARCA 1936) (RCA 1945) (VPRCA 1959) (PRCA 1960-64).

Awards
Two Jessie Dow Prizes, Mtl. Mus. Fine Arts Spring Shows (1946) (1947); Four major prizes, Mtl. Directors’ Club; I.B.M. Medal; Centennial Medal; Canada Council Grant (1974), for book illustrations in Selwyn Dewdney’s They Shared to Survive. . ..
2005 – Helene Wurlitzer Foundation Artist’s Residency, Taos New Mexico
2004 – Pouch Cove Artist’s Residency, NL
2001 – Elected Member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (RCA/ARC)
Professional Activities
Taught for many years at the Ontario College of Art until 1989

Commissions

  • Mural for City Hall – Hamilton
  • Mural for Shawinigan Water & Power Co. – Quebec
  • Mural for Canadian Pacific Railway
  • Design for tapestries for Royal Bank of Canada
  • Design for tapestries for Chateau Champlain – Montreal
  • Mural for New East Block, Ontario Parliament Buildings
  • Long series of historical illustrations for:
  • Hudson’s Bay Company, Maclean’s Magazine, Labatt’s Brewery,
  • Distiller’s Corporation, Dow Chemical
Publications