Toronto Art Appraisal
- elliotmelamed
- 13 minutes ago
- 2 min read
We recently completed a Toronto Art Appraisal for one of our local estate clients. The collection contained many high quality pieces by noted and rare Canadian artists. This large scale and panoramic original oil painting is both striking and impressive. It was executed by well accomplished Canadian artist Nan Cheney (1897-1985).
Toronto Art Appraisal
Anna Gertrude Lawson, known professionally as Nan Cheney, was a distinguished Canadian painter and medical illustrator whose career spanned much of the 20th century. Born in 1897 in Windsor, Nova Scotia, she became a prominent figure in British Columbia's art community, renowned for her modernist landscapes and seascapes.
Early Life and Education
Nan Cheney was born in Windsor, Nova Scotia, in 1897. Her formative years were spent in Havana, Cuba, before returning to Canada. She pursued her artistic education at several esteemed institutions:
Newcombe College Art School, Tulane University, New Orleans (c. 1917–1918): Here, she received foundational training in art.
School of Medical Illustration, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore (1920–1921): Under the tutelage of Max Brodel, she honed her skills in medical illustration, a field that would significantly influence her later work.
Ontario College of Art Summer School (under J.W. Beatty): Further refining her artistic techniques.
Art Association of Ottawa (c. 1926, under Franklin Brownell): Continued her studies, focusing on landscape painting.
Private study with Aldro T. Hibbard in Massachusetts (1927): Enhanced her skills in plein air painting.
Art Association of Montreal (c. 1934, under Lilias Torrance Newton): Expanded her artistic repertoire.
School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (1936, under Alexandre Iacovleff): Furthered her studies in fine arts.
Career and Artistic Contributions
In 1921, Cheney began her professional career as a medical illustrator at McGill University in Montreal, a position she held until 1924. Her expertise in this field was further recognized when, in 1937, she became the University of British Columbia's first medical artist, a role she maintained until 1962.
Beyond her medical illustration work, Cheney was an accomplished painter, specializing in modernist landscapes and seascapes. Her travels throughout British Columbia in the 1930s and 1940s provided inspiration for her art, capturing the province's diverse natural beauty. She was a contemporary and friend of Emily Carr, another renowned Canadian artist known for her depictions of the West Coast.
Exhibitions and Recognition
Cheney's work was exhibited in various galleries and institutions across Canada and the United States. Her contributions to the art community were acknowledged through her membership in the British Columbia Society of Artists and the Federation of Canadian Artists.
Legacy
Nan Cheney passed away in 1985 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Her legacy endures through her contributions to both medical illustration and Canadian art. Her paintings continue to be celebrated for their modernist approach and vivid portrayal of British Columbia's landscapes. Cheney's dual career as a medical illustrator and painter highlights her versatility and dedication to her craft, leaving an indelible mark on the Canadian art scene.
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