Alfred Joseph Casson, OC (1898 – 1992) was a member of the Canadian group of artists 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.
Alfred was born in Toronto to an English Quaker father and a Canadian mother. At age 9 he moved to Guelph and to Hamilton at age 14. The first exposure he had to art was at Hamilton Technical School, where he was asked by his teacher to demonstrate for the class. His father sent him to work at age 15 as an apprentice at a Hamilton lithography company. In 1915 the family moved back to Toronto. At the same time as working, he attended evening classes at Central Technical School. 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).
In 1919 Casson moved to Rous and Mann where he was influenced by and assistant to Group of Seven member Franklin Carmichael to sketch and paint on his own. Carmichael and Casson then moved on to the first Canadian silkscreen printing firm, Sampson, Matthews Ltd. 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 watercolor and in 1925 along with Carmichael and F. H. Brigden (Fredrick), founded the Canadian Society of Painters in Water Color. 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 member of the Group of Seven. In the same year he also became an associate member of the most conservative Royal Canadian Academy. After Carmichael left in 1932 to teach at the Ontario College of Art, Casson became their Art Director and later their vice-president in 1946. In 1952, he was elected into the National Academy of Design as an Honorary Corresponding member.
In 1924 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 in 1932, he co-founded the Canadian Group of Painters.
Casson developed a painting style with clear colors and background designs. Alfred "retired" in 1957 at age 60, to paint full-time.
A privately owned work of A. J. Casson's appeared on the May 26, 2008, airing of PBS's "Antiques Roadshow." The work appraised in the $25,000 to $35,000 range. A large oil on canvas by A. J. Casson, Street in Glen Williams, sold for a record $542,800. On November 23rd, 2016, A.J. Casson's Gathering Storm sold for $1,534,000 (CDN). The highest amount paid for a Casson painting, to date.
© 2019. All images are copyrighted © by A. J. Casson or assignee. Apart from fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, the use of any image from this site is prohibited unless prior written permission is obtained. All images used for illustrative purposes only.
Alfred was born in Toronto to an English Quaker father and a Canadian mother. At age 9 he moved to Guelph and to Hamilton at age 14. The first exposure he had to art was at Hamilton Technical School, where he was asked by his teacher to demonstrate for the class. His father sent him to work at age 15 as an apprentice at a Hamilton lithography company. In 1915 the family moved back to Toronto. At the same time as working, he attended evening classes at Central Technical School. 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).
In 1919 Casson moved to Rous and Mann where he was influenced by and assistant to Group of Seven member Franklin Carmichael to sketch and paint on his own. Carmichael and Casson then moved on to the first Canadian silkscreen printing firm, Sampson, Matthews Ltd. 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 watercolor and in 1925 along with Carmichael and F. H. Brigden (Fredrick), founded the Canadian Society of Painters in Water Color. 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 member of the Group of Seven. In the same year he also became an associate member of the most conservative Royal Canadian Academy. After Carmichael left in 1932 to teach at the Ontario College of Art, Casson became their Art Director and later their vice-president in 1946. In 1952, he was elected into the National Academy of Design as an Honorary Corresponding member.
In 1924 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 in 1932, he co-founded the Canadian Group of Painters.
Casson developed a painting style with clear colors and background designs. Alfred "retired" in 1957 at age 60, to paint full-time.
A privately owned work of A. J. Casson's appeared on the May 26, 2008, airing of PBS's "Antiques Roadshow." The work appraised in the $25,000 to $35,000 range. A large oil on canvas by A. J. Casson, Street in Glen Williams, sold for a record $542,800. On November 23rd, 2016, A.J. Casson's Gathering Storm sold for $1,534,000 (CDN). The highest amount paid for a Casson painting, to date.
© 2019. All images are copyrighted © by A. J. Casson or assignee. Apart from fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, the use of any image from this site is prohibited unless prior written permission is obtained. All images used for illustrative purposes only.
 |
| 1927, Lighthouse at Oakville |
 |
| 1930, Farm house near Terra Cotta |
 |
| 1930, Untitled (Winter Scene in Small Village) |
 |
| 1932, Spring lasky |
 |
| 1937, The Village Mill |
 |
| 1942, Summer storm |
 |
| 1943, Algonquin Park |
 |
| 1946, Late flurry |
 |
| 1951, Pugh Lake |
 |
| 1953, Crescendo |
 |
| 1954, Barns at Baptiste |
 |
| 1955, Summer sky |
 |
| 1957, March morning |
 |
| 1958, Snow flurries |
 |
| 1960, Farm at Britt |
 |
| 1960, Evening sun after rain |
 |
| 1960, Farmhouse Near Wingle |
 |
| 1960, Rain, Mist and Sun |
 |
| 1962, Evening Sun |
 |
| 1962, Still morning |
 |
| 1963, Valley farm in March |
 |
| 1965, Old bridge on the York River at Bancroft |
 |
| 1966, Cabin Near Cushing, Québec |
 |
| 1968, Early summer, Québec |
 |
| 1970, Farmhouse in the hills, Québec |
 |
| 1971, Little Church at Kilmar, Québec |
 |
| 1972, Farm at Fairmount |
 |
| 1972, October storm |
 |
| 1973, Hilly road, Walters Falls |
 |
| 1974, Grey March day |
 |
| 1974, October storm clouds |
 |
| 1975, Autumn Panorama |
 |
| 1975, Village House, St. George |
 |
| 1976, A house in Unionville |
 |
| 1980, Anglican Church, Magnetawan |
 |
| 1980, October Morning |
 |
| 1980, Old Store in Salem |
 |
| Approaching storm (unknown date) |
 |
| Little Island (unknown date) |
 |
| Prelude (unknown date) |
 |
| Mil at Washago (unknown date) |
Love AJ Casson's work. Never tire of seeing his classical works.
ReplyDelete