A.H. Robson

Born in 1882
 / Died in 1939

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About the Artist

ROBSON, Albert Henry

1882-1939

Born in Lindsay, Ontario, the son of W.M. and Elizabeth Robson, he attended collegiate in Lindsay then went on to the College of Art, Toronto. Around 1908 he shared a studio in an informal partnership with C.W. Jefferys. Both men were graphic artists, specializing in illustration and advertising design. In his personal painting he was accomplished in water colours which he did for pleasure. He never sold his paintings because he didn’t want to compete with those artists who made their living either partly or totally from the sale of their paintings. He exhibited with the Associated Watercolour Painters along with F.M: BeII-Smith, F.H. Brigden, R.F. Gagen, T.G. Greene, C.W. Jefferys, J.D. Kelly, C.M. Manly, J.E. Sampson, George Chavignaud and G.A. Reid. The Society founded in 1912 was short lived. He was also a member of the Mahlstick Club (1902) and the Graphic Arts Club (Found. Member, 1st Pres. 1904) and probably exhibited with these societies and other groups. He made sketching trips into northern Ontario with friends or associates. He earned his living in the early years as a commercial artist and newspaper reporter for the Toronto News and the World. One of his assignments was to follow the Canadian tour of the Duke and Duchess of York. Today reproductions of his paintings are hard to find but one of his water colours “Woodland Interior” is reproduced in his book Canadian Landscape Painters (1932). He left free­lance work to become art director of Grip Limited. He had practical knowledge of reproduction, illustration, colour printing and commercial design, and a natural aptitude and a keen sense for business. At Grip, an engraving-house, he had under him J.E.H. MacDonald, Tom Thomson, Frank Johnston, Arthur Lismer, Frank Carmichael, F.H. Varley, Tom McLean, William Broadhead, Neil McKechnie and others. Five of these artists became members of the Group of Seven. They received understanding and encouragement from Robson who himself had been an adventurer in search of landscapes. But Robson, on occasion, had to remind his artists that they were at Grip after all to produce work for the company and not to discuss at length their experiences on painting trips or painting techniques. Robson had a general interest in the arts: visual, literature, performing (music and drama). His largeness of spirit fostered an atmosphere at Grip that heightened the creativity of his artists both at work and in their leisure hours as they pursued self expression in their personal painting. In 1912 Robson moved to Rous and Mann, Ltd., printers and publishers, as art director, a normal move for a man of his abilities, seeking better general advancement, he eventually became vice-president of the firm. In this position he was responsible for bringing about a series of greeting cards of high quality of Canadian artists’ paintings replacing cheaper foreign cards which were the main choice for Canadians until Robson’s plan was implemented. As vice­President of the Art Gallery of Toronto he was also responsible for the acquisition by the Art Gallery of many important paintings and drawings by Canadian artists, especially the Group of Seven and their contemporaries. Robson became better known to the public through his Canadian Artists Series of books: Tom Thomson (1937), J.E.H. MacDonald (1937), Cornelius Krieghoff (1937), Clarence Gagnon (1938), Paul Kane (1938), A. Y. Jackson (1938) all published by Ryerson Press. A member of the Canadian Authors’ Association, he was elected president of the Toronto branch and member of the national executive (1935-37). He also gave freely of his time for the Central Ontario Drama Festival, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra but his special love was the Art Gallery of Toronto. He aided greatly in the drive for the building fund for the Gallery’s new addition in 1926. At the age of 57 he died suddenly of a heart attack following recovery from a broken ankle. At the time of his death he was survived by his widow, Mildred Robson; two daughters; Nancy and Elizabeth; one son, Bruce; one brother Fred E. Robson, and one sister Miss Emma Robson.

Colin S. MacDonald

A Dictionary of Canadian Artists, volumes 1-8 by Colin S. MacDonald, and volume 9 (online only), by Anne Newlands and Judith Parker
National Gallery of Canada / Musée des beaux-arts du Canada