Isabel McLaughlin

Isabel Grace McLaughlin, CM OOnt (10 October 1903 - 26 November 2002) was a Canadian visual artist, patron and philanthropist. She was an early Modernist Canadian painter specializing in landscapes and still life with a strong interest in design.[1]

Randolph Hewton, Isabel McLaughlin, Gordon Webber, Audrey Taylor, Prudence Heward and Rody Kenny Courtice, around 1935

Biography
Whitefish Falls in 1936. Top row: Randolph Hewton, Mr. Whittall, Charles Comfort, Yvonne McKague Housser. Middle row: Isabel McLaughlin, Gordon Webber, Bennie Hewton. Bottom row: Hal Hayden, Audrey Taylor, Prudence Heward, Rody Kenny Courtice, Mr. Macdonald.

Born in Oshawa, Ontario, McLaughlin was the third of five daughters to the founder of General Motors of Canada, President Col. Robert Samuel McLaughlin and Adelaide Mowbray McLaughlin. She studied art at the Ontario College of Art between 1925 and 1927 with Group of Seven member Arthur Lismer and Yvonne McKague Housser, the latter of whom she referred to as "remarkable".[2]:12 She then attended the Art Students` League, as it was called, a school started by Lismer`s students on the grounds of the College of Art with, as mentors, Lismer and Housser.[3] Lawren Harris, A. Y. Jackson, Bertram Brooker, Lowrie Warrener, Frances Loring and Florence Wyle, also came and besides advice, expressed enthusiasm.[4]

McLaughlin studied in Paris at the Scandinavian Academy with Prudence Heward in 1929, in Vienna with Housser in 1930 and with Hans Hofmann with Alexandra Luke in the period from 1947 to 1952.[1][5] McLaughlin was to become lifelong friends with Housser and the two often went on painting excursions together. She was firm friends with all three women, especially Housser. In 1948 Housser painted a watercolour depicting McLaughlin titled Isabel the Archaeologist, Cap Chat River.[2]:69

In 1933, she and Housser were founding members of the Canadian Group of Painters. McLaughlin served as its first woman president in 1939.[6] McLaughlin was also a member of the Ontario Society of Artists, as well as an executive member of the Heliconian Club in Toronto.[7]

On December 1, 1987 McLaughlin made a donation of art work from her personal collection of art works by other artists than herself to The Robert McLaughlin Gallery in Oshawa. Some of these artists included Gerhard Richter, Prudence Heward, Louis Archambault, B. C. Binning, André Charles Biéler, Emil Bisttram, Emily Carr, Paraskeva Clark, Lyonel Feininger, Lawren Harris, A. Y. Jackson, Alexandra Luke, Peter Haworth, Bobs Cogill Haworth, Hans Hofmann, J. E. H. MacDonald, Anne Savage, Arthur Lismer, and Sarah Robertson among others.[8] A second donation followed in 1990 which included many works by Jackson, Lismer and Housser.[9]

McLaughlin was the recipient of the Order of Ontario in 1993 and the Order of Canada in 1997.[10]

Legacy

McLaughlin was the subject of an authorized portrait relief sculpture by Florence Wyle.[11] A mid-life portrait photograph was authorized by Reva Brooks in the 1950s.

Following her death, McLaughlin's remaining collection of art work was donated to the Robert McLaughlin Gallery. Her archives was donated to Queen's University archives.[12]

References
  1. The Canadian Encyclopedia, The Canadian Encyclopedia, retrieved 2009-10-17
  2. Joan Murray (1995). The Art of Yvonne McKague Housser. The Robert McLaughlin Gallery. p. 12. ISBN 0-921500-11-4.
  3. Murray, Isabel McLaughlin 1983, p. 12.
  4. Murray, Isabel McLaughlin 1983, pp. 12-13.
  5. Murray, Isabel McLaughlin 1983, pp. 15-21.
  6. Canadian Women Artists History Initiative, retrieved 2009-10-17
  7. Huneault, Kristina; Anderson, Janice (2012-04-11). Rethinking Professionalism: Women and Art in Canada, 1850-1970. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. p. 32. ISBN 978-0-7735-3966-2.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  8. Joan Murray (1987), Part 1 The Isabel McLaughlin Gift: Official Opening 1987, The Robert McLaughlin Gallery
  9. The Isabel McLaughlin Gift: Part 2. Oshawa: Robert McLaughlin Gallery. 1990.
  10. Appointments to the Order of Canada, Donald George Jackson, C.M, retrieved 2009-10-17
  11. Joan Murray (2003), An Extraordinary Life, Isabel McLaughlin, Robert McLaughlin Gallery, ISBN 0-921500-68-8
  12. 2007 News Exploring Techniques, Queen's University Archives, archived from the original on 2011-06-20, retrieved 2009-10-17

Bibliography
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