1915-04-24rr

“With some of the best works of Canadian artists on exhibition, the art gallery, in the old library building, was the Mecca for a large number of Hamilton people last night ”

Hamilton Times.    April 24, 1915.

The Hamilton Art Gallery was host for a major travelling exhibition which provided local art lovers to view a series of exceptional paintings, while also supporting the Patriotic Fund:

“Shortly after the outbreak of the war, the presidents of the Royal Canadian Academy, Ontario Society of Artists and the Canadian Art club, devised a plan by which the artists of Canada might have an opportunity to unite in contributing to the Patriotic Fund.

“Already the exhibition, which is rotary, has been given in a number of the leading Canadian cities, and including the pictures, admission fees and sales from catalogues, about $12,000 has been raised for the fund, free of deductions, as the R.C.A. undertakes all the expenses connected with the transport, packing, framing and exhibition of the pictures.”¹

¹ “Exhibition For Patriotic Fund : Fine Pictures by Leading Canadian Painters”

Hamilton Spectator. April 24, 1915.

The exhibition consisted of 80 paintings and 2 sculptures which the artists contributed to the effort. Each work was to be sold to the highest bidder, all proceeds from the sales for the Patriotic Fund.

The Spectator reporter provided a verbal description of what the exhibition was like:

“As hung in the Hamilton art gallery, the collection has been arranged in good taste, and the many canvases appear to excellent advantage.

“As one entered the gallery, there was first seen the huge poster which as been used exclusively in advertising the exhibition in various cities. The poster was most apt in its subject and execution and was the work of J. E. H. Macdonald, who won first place in the poster contest for the campaign.

“As one wandered around the gallery, canvases by every well-known name in Canadian art greeted the eye, and only admiration could be expressed for the generosity of the artists who had given so bountifully of their work, for the intrinsic beauty and worth of the pictures themselves and for the forethought of the Royal Canadian Academy in affording the public an opportunity to view collectively the productions of home artists.”¹

There was a short ceremony to formally open the exhibition. It was announced that the exhibition would remain in Hamilton for a week up to Saturday May 1, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tea would be served to all visitors by lady volunteers from among the various patriotic organizations in the city.