Born in Montreal in 1911, Stanley Cosgrove studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts (with Edwin Holgate) and at the Art Association of Montreal. He was much-influenced by the French painters, Braque and Rouault, and was honoured with a 4 year scholarship to study in France. World War II intervened, however and plans were altered. He chose to study in Mexico City instead, where he worked with the Fresco painter, Jose Clemente Orozco. Cosgrove assisted the artist in a major fresco commission for the Hospital Jesus de Nazareno in Mexico City. Here he learned fresco techniques which would inform his painting style throughout his life. Due to this experience, Cosgrove later worked to give fresco painting greater recognition in Canada and taught the technique at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts.