J. E. H. MacDonald

James Edward Hervey MacDonald (Known as "J. E. H. MacDonald")

Founding Member of the Group of Seven, Principal of Ontario College of Art, Poet

Born May 12, 1873

Durham (County Durham), Great Britain

Passed Away Nov 26, 1932 Toronto, Canada

Lifespan 59 years old

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"There is a silent music in the northern forest that only color can awaken."

Archival Overview

Founding member and elder statesman of the Group of Seven, whose radiant autumn landscape The Solemn Land captured the spiritual majesty of Algoma, and who served as Principal of OCA.

Biographical Record

Moving to Hamilton as a boy, MacDonald worked as senior designer at Grip Ltd. in Toronto, mentoring Tom Thomson. In 1916, his painting The Tangled Garden provoked fierce controversy, breaking with British academic conventions to introduce bold post-impressionist color to Canada.

MacDonald led the historic boxcar sketching expeditions into Algoma after WWI, producing masterpieces like The Solemn Land (1921) and Batchewana Rapid. Named Principal of the Ontario College of Art in 1928, his decorative poetry and typography shaped Canadian book design.

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Rest in Peace Forever remembered and cherished Your legacy lives on in all of us With deep gratitude for your life and light

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Final Resting Place

Perpetual Memorial

Prospect Cemetery
Toronto, Canada

                         GPS: 43.6833, -79.4500                    

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