Bishop's University is grateful for the generous donation of 12 paintings by distinguished Eastern Townships artist Frederick Simpson Coburn, D.C.L. '36.
Philanthropist Scott Taylor has contributed 11 of the paintings, while the Goldbloom family has gifted an additional piece. The artist himself donated a painting to the University in 1942.
Born in Upper Melbourne, Coburn studied art in Montreal, Berlin, and London. His early work featured book illustrations, often portraying French Canadian society. He won the Art Association of Montreal's Jessie Dow prize, exhibited at the Tate Gallery in London, and was a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. His work can also be found in public collections at the National Gallery of Canada and the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Sherbrooke.
"The University has been fortunate to have a Coburn in its collection and we are very grateful to Scott Taylor for this extraordinary gift of 11 paintings," said Michael Goldbloom, C.M., Principal and Vice-Chancellor. "I've known Mr. Coburn's work since I was a young child as my grandparents had one of his paintings and it was inherited by my parents. I would like to thank my sister Susan and my brother Jonathan for agreeing to donate our Coburn to Bishop's."
The paintings will be displayed in the McGreer Building's Tomlinson Hall, the boardroom where the University's Board of Governors and Academic Senate meet.
Community members and visitors to the campus can view the artwork by making an appointment with the Office of the University Librarian.
To view the backgrounder, click here.
