Toronto In Art

[junctionist]

Some paintings convey so much more about ordinary life in Toronto at different points in history than photos of streets torn up in the early 20th century for streetcar track reconstruction.

 

[androiduk]

^ That's exactly right. Those simple images of everyday life are usually the most interesting but contemporary artists of the time usually overlook them.

 

[thecharioteer]

Subway construction art 1950

Man with Drill:

 

[thecharioteer]

A bit of a contrast: King and Bay 1882:

 

[Jerry Campbell]

Wow, what a great display of paintings. I've always liked Albert Franck's work, and that of my personal favourite, Christiane Pflug. Ernest Conyers Barker is new to me, so thanks for the introduction. Very inspiring.
I'm a plein air painter here in Toronto, and my work can be seen here: www.jerrycampbell.blogspot.com Please accept my apologies for the shameless plug.
Below are a couple of samples. I hope you like them.

 

[Edward Skira]

Nice work. Thanks for posting.

 

[thecharioteer]

 

[Urban Shocker]

... not just the Navy, actually.

Artist Grant Macdonald's book Sailors, published during WW2, is a charming collection of portraits of Canadian seamen. Born in Montreal and educated at OCA, Macdonald was a successful illustrator and portrait artist in England and on this continent, who captured the theatre scene when he wasn't all at sea.

 

[thecharioteer]

 

[thecharioteer]

A few more from Library and Archives Canada:

1815:

1835:

1863:

1878:

1882:

 

[thecharioteer]

St. Patrick's Market 1845 (TPL site):

 

[Leo1903]

Contemporary Toronto Plein Air Paintings

This is a great site, especially for seeing old images of the city of which I have a passion. Since I paint myself, thought I'd post a couple of my own Toronto paintings. The titles are "Empty Lot on Hook Ave" and "Occupy Toronto". The first being a street in the Toronto Junction the later being of the demonstration in St. James Park . Both are plein air, oil pastels. Should you be interested, more images of my Toronto paintings can be found here:

http://leobolta.blogspot.com/

Thanks for looking,

Leo

 

[Goldie]

I like this beautiful image of Toronto in 1914.
Found at: http://ve.torontopubliclibrary.ca/showcase/sketches/index.html

 

[Urban Shocker]

This is a great site, especially for seeing old images of the city of which I have a passion. Since I paint myself, thought I'd post a couple of my own Toronto paintings. The titles are "Empty Lot on Hook Ave" and "Occupy Toronto". The first being a street in the Toronto Junction the later being of the demonstration in St. James Park . Both are plein air, oil pastels.

Welcome, Leo, and congratulations for setting Occupy Toronto to canvas. Considering how long they were in the park, I was disappointed that the arts community did so little to memorialize them.

 

[thecharioteer]

Thought i would revive this thread after finding these pics of a fire at the Rossin House (King & York) 1862:

The Rossin House, looking north on York Street, 1890:

The fire: