In this charming 8.5 x 10.5 inch oil on panel piece, John William Beatty captures the beautiful golden hues of autumn in Canada. Painted circa 1934, Autumn River showcases Beatty’s remarkable skill.
Born in Toronto, Ontario in 1869, Beatty’s young life got off to a memorable start when he was expelled from school for putting a dead bird on the headmaster’s desk.
He went on to be among the first artists to travel to northern Ontario to paint landscapes. During this time, he befriended Tom Thomson and members of the future Group of Seven. Beatty was invited to join the group by Lawren Harris, but unfortunately it didn’t work out due to personality conflicts between Beatty and some of the other group members.
Outside of work, Beatty had an unbelievable talent for passing on his skills. A strong case can be made that he was the greatest art teacher our country has ever seen. He taught many of Canada’s most iconic artists such as Alan Colier, A.J Casson, and Doris McCarthy, to name a few.