| A. J. Casson | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 17, 1898 Toronto, Ontario |
| Died | February 20, 1992 (aged 93) |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Field | Painting |
Alfred Joseph Casson, OC (May 17, 1898 - February 20, 1992) was a member of the Canadian group of painters known as the Group of Seven. He joined the group in 1926 at the invitation of Franklin Carmichael. Casson is best known for his depictions of landscapes, forests and farms of southern Ontario, and for being the youngest member of the Group of Seven.
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Alfred was born in Toronto, Ontario, in 1898 to an English Quaker father and a Canadian mother. At age 9 he moved to Guelph and to Hamilton at age 14. He left school early at age 15 to work as an apprentice at a Hamilton lithography company. At the same time, he studied art at Central Technical School. Casson left Hamilton at age 17 and moved to Toronto. The first public exhibition of his work was at the Canadian National Exhibition, in 1917. He was hired by the commercial art/ engravers firm Brigden's, owned by George and Fredrick Brigden (brothers).
At Brigdens, Alfred was influenced and apprenticed by Group of Seven member Franklin Carmichael to sketch and paint on his own. Carmichael introduced Casson to The Arts and Letters Club of Toronto, where he met many well-known artists, including other Group of Seven members.
During the 1920s, Casson continued to paint during his spare time alone and with the Group of Seven. Alfred enjoyed watercolour and in 1925 along with Carmichael and F.H. Brigden (Fredrick), founded the Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour.
After Frank Johnston, a Group of Seven member, left the group in 1921, Casson seemed like an appropriate replacement. Later in 1926, he was invited by Carmichael to become a Group of Seven member. Casson joined excitedly. He left Brigden's Ltd. in 1927 and joined Sampson Matthews. He became their art director and later their vice-president.
In 1929 Casson married Margaret Petry. His father died shortly after his marriage, and he had to take care of and support his widowed mother. After the ending of the Group of Seven, he co-founded the Canadian Group of Painters in 1933. Several members of the Group of Seven later became members of the Canadian Group of Painters including Lawren Harris, A. J. Casson, Arthur Lismer, A. Y. Jackson, and Franklin Carmichael.
Casson developed a painting style with clear colours and background designs. Alfred "retired" in 1957 at age 60 but continued to paint full time.
During his career, a number of books were published that celebrated his works. In 1979, Casson began a long-term publishing relationship with M. Bernard Loates that would last until his death.[1]
A.J. Casson died in 1992 at age 93 and is buried on the grounds of the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, along with six other Group of Seven members.
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