Christian Cardell Corbet

Christian Cardell Corbet
Christian Cardell Corbet (right)
Born	(1966-01-31) 31 January 1966 Pickering Beach, (Ajax, Ontario), Canada
Nationality	Canadian
Education	University of Guelph, Private Mentorship under Dr. Elizabeth Bradford Holbrook
Known for	Sculptor, painter and designer
Movement	Contemporary Realism, Abstract

Christian Cardell Corbet (born 31 January 1966) is a Canadian sculptor, painter and designer. He co-founded and was first President of the Canadian Portrait Academy.

Personal life

Born on 31 January 1966, at Pickering Beach, Ajax, Ontario, he was raised by his paternal grandparents. At a very young age, he developed a strong interest in the fine arts while working with his grandfather on commercial signs. His grandparents along with his great uncle John Gould and great aunt Olive Gould strongly encouraged him to paint and sculpt.

As Corbet's artistic career was just commencing his closest aunt Olive Gould died suddenly in 1995. Following this he divorced his first wife in 1997.In 1999 his mother died and her body was found in a field near Orangeville, Ontario.^[1]

Early career

In 1996, Corbet was instrumental in securing a portrait of the Queen Mother created by a British Columbian artist into the Queen Mother's private collection.^[2] In 1996, Corbet also met and was mentored by sculptor Elizabeth Bradford Holbrook,^[3][4] His works include portrait paintings and sculptures of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Isabel McLaughlin and Doris McCarthy^[5]

In 1997, Corbet painted a portrait of Canadian composer Jean Coulthard.^[6] In 1998, Corbet sculpted a portrait of Jane Addams for the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom and later in 1999 he was appointed a Patron Artist for The International Dyslexia Association where he sculpted a portrait of Samuel Orton and Carl Kline and Carolyn Kline.^[5][7] This sculpture titled: "The Dr. and Mrs. Carl L. Kline Award for Outstanding Service in the Field of Dyslexia" is an annual award.^[8]

In 1999, Corbet was again inducted into "Who's Who in Canada – 90th Anniversary Edition" in the "Rising Stars" section. By this point in his career Corbet was represented in the following collections: HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, UK; Glamis Castle, Scotland; Abraham Brill Library, USA; Sigmund Freud Museum, UK; University of Guelph, Canada; City of North Vancouver, Canada; Seymour Art Gallery, Canada; Durham Board of Education, Canada; University of British Columbia, Canada; Lions Gate Hospital, Canada; CBC. Corp (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation). Canada.^[5]

Portrait art

In 2000, Elizabeth Bradford Holbrook asked Corbet to create a sculpture based on an older 1979 liturgical drawing of hers. The sculpture titled "Glory Be Madonna and Child" was completed about two weeks before Bradford Holbrook died in March 2009. The bisque relief sculpture of was donated by Corbet to St. John's Anglican Church, Ancaster, Ontario.^[9]

In 2006, Corbet's portrait of the Thomas Reuben Black was acquired by the Library of Parliament, Parliament of Canada.^[10]

In 2008, Corbet was commissioned by the Churchill Society for the Advancement of Parliamentary Democracy 25th Anniversary to create an authorized portrait of Sir Winston Churchill. Two maquettes of this medallion were presented to Lady Mary Soames and Celia Sandys.^[11] He was also appointed to the Head Table at the Churchill Society for the Advancement of Parliamentary Democracy 25th Anniversary Dinner seated with such notable people as former Prime Minister of Canada Kim Campbell; Hal Jackman; Catherine Callbeck; Martha Hall Findlay among others. Corbet is pictured with his sculpture of Winston Churchill in a special limited edition publication with William Graham, Chancellor Trinity College.^[12] His portrait of Margaret Atwood, created in 1998, was published on the front cover of Margaret Atwood and the Female Bildungsroman, written by Bath University professor Ellen McWilliams and published in 2009.^[13]

In 2009, Corbet sculpted and painted a portrait of Guernsey poet and painter Denys Corbet.^[14] The painting of Denys Corbet was unveiled at the Forest Douzaine on 30 May 2009.^[15][16] In July 2009, Corbet had a solo exhibition at the Priaulx Library where the Bailiff of Guernsey, Channel Islands, Sir Geoffrey Rowland, unveiled a portrait of himself painted by Corbet.^[17][18] In late 2009 Corbet created an authorized conte and pastel portrait of Patricia Knatchbull, 2nd Countess Mountbatten of Burma which was unveiled by the Countess in Warwickshire, England in October.^[19] The oil sketch is in the Canadian Portrait Academy Permanent Collection.^[20]

Margaret Atwood Idea Idea is a mixed media painting exhibited at the Canadian Portrait Academy, Hycroft Mansion, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada to mixed reviews. Later it was deposited into the CPA Permanent Collection. The 24 inch x 48 inch acrylic on canvas abstract portrait includes several real Peruvian butterflies affixed to it. The portrait was donated by the Canadian Portrait Academy in 2003 to the University of British Columbia.

In 2009, Ellen McWilliams of Bath Spa University used the portrait for the front cover of her book Margaret Atwood and the Female Bildungsroman.^[13]

Between 2010 and 2011 Corbet created over 17 portrait sculptures of such noted subjects as Oscar Niemeyer, Rise Stevens, Michael Ignatieff, Walter Allward, Sir Admiral Charles Kingsmill, Hon. Jack Layton, Aung San Suu Kyi among others. In October 2011 Corbet was Guest of Honour of the Royal Canadian Navy where Corbet and Rear Admiral Norman unveiled a commissioned portrait bust of Chief Petty Officer Max Bernays at HMCS Bytown, Ottawa.^[21][22] Corbet currently is represented in over 80 selected museums and art galleries world wide.^[23]

In 2012 Corbet was commissioned by The Royal Canadian Regiment to sculpt a portrait bust of HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The Duke of Edinburgh approved Corbet as his sculptor and the life-sittings took place in Buckingham Palace in February and March 2013. On 26 June an unveiling took place at Canada House, London, England where HRH The Duke of Kent unveiled the portrait bust. At the unveiling Corbet was named by the Duke of Kent as the first "Regimental Sculptor". In June 2014 Prince Philip acquired the bronze and marble portrait bust into the Royal Collection; the audience was held in the Yellow Drawing Room in Buckingham Palace. This is the first time a Canadian sculpted a Royal Consort from life-sittings.^{[24][25] [26][27]}

Public and family roles

Corbet is also regarded as a benefactor having made donations to institutions such as the Guernsey Museum and Art Gallery of Guernsey Pottery from part of his vast collection.^[28][29]

In 2009, Corbet was the first Canadian Judge at the Annual Bonny Baby Competition in the Vale Parish, Guernsey, Channel Islands.^[17]

Awards

2012 – Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal^[30]

References

External links

• Official website