Estelle Muriel Kerr (Canadian) 1897-1971 “Dutch Workers Resting 1906”

Oil on board, signed and dated 1906 lower right corner

Sight: 17.5″ x 10.5″

Framed: 23″ x 16″

Source: Concordia University: Canadian Women Artists History Initiative

KERR, Estelle Muriel

Born

Toronto, Ontario, 1879

Died

?, 1971

Biography synopsis

Estelle Kerr studied in Toronto with Mary Ella Dignam and Laura Muntz Lyall, and also at the Art Students League in New York for two years, and at the Académie de la Grande Chaumiere for two years. She sketched in Italy, Switzerland, France, Belgium and Holland during the summers and she published a children’s book titled “Little Sam in Volendam.” During the First World War she worked as an ambulance driver, and she published the book “The Town Crier of Gevrey” based on her experiences. She contributed many illustrated stories and poems to a number of Canadian and American publications and she illustrated a number of children’s books. She did many portraits of children as well as landscapes and figure studies.

Media used

Graphic design

Painting

Sculpture

Education

Private study (under Mary Ella Dignam; Laura Muntz)

Art Students’ League, New York

Académie de la Grande Chaumière, Paris

File & Archive locations

Art Gallery of Ontario – Edward P. Taylor Research Library and Archives

London Public Library, ON

Montreal Museum of Fine Arts / Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal, QC

National Gallery of Canada, ON – Library and Archives

University of British Columbia – Fine Arts Library

Library and Archives Canada / Bibliothèque et Archives Canada, ON

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Writings about

“Art of Canadians Well Represented.” Gazette (Montreal) 19 Nov. 1920: 1.

“Art Works On View Set High Standard: Thirty-Eighth Annual Exhibition of Royal Canadian Academy Is Opened.” Gazette (Montreal) 17 Nov. 1916.

“Basque Country Painter Paradise Says Miss E. Kerr.” Daily Star (Toronto) Toronto: 6 July 1926.

“Classic, by Estelle M. Kerr.” Toronto Saturday Night (22 Apr. 1944).

“Close-Ups of Toronto’s Women Artists, No. 4 Miss Estelle Kerr.” Sunday World (?) 15 Jun. 1924.

“Dazzling Mexican Sunshine Influences Art Ideologies.” Toronto Telegram 18 Sept. 1948.

“Etudes sur quelques toiles.” La Presse (Montreal) 25 Nov. 1922.

“Fine Work Marks R.C.A. Exhibition.” Gazette (Montreal) 20 Nov. 1925.

“Miss Estelle Kerr.” Toronto Star 7 July 1926.

“Montreal Artists Well Represented: High Standard Set at Spring Exhibition of Art Association.” Gazette (Montreal) 16 Mar. 1923: 6.

“Mrs. Alan Phillips by Estelle M. Kerr.” Toronto Star Weekly 2 Apr. 1927.

“Much Good Work at R.C.A. Exhibition: Thirty-Fifth Annual Show Comprises Interesting Pictures by Local Artists.” Gazette (Montreal) 21 Nov. 1913: 5.

“Orange Boy.” Mayfair Magazine (Oct. 1948).

“Royal Canadian Academy Exhibition has Work by Artists Now at Front.” Gazette (Montreal) 19 Nov. 1915.

“The Art Student’s Frolic.” Sunday World 9 Apr. 1922.

“The Little Bridge.” Daily Star (Windsor) 22 Dec. 1951.

Art Gallery of the Toronto Public Reference Library. Catalogue of the 2nd Annual Exhibition of Little Pictures by Canadian Artists. Toronto: Art Gallery of the Toronto Public Reference Library, 1914.

Brewster, Muriel. “Parents Can’t Picture Children.” The Toronto Star Weekly (6 Feb. 1926).

Burgoyne, St. George. “Some Canadian Illustrators.” Canadian Bookman (Jan-Apr. 1919): 21-25, 27-30.

Carr, Angela, ed. Raven Papers: Remembering Natalie Luckyj (1945-2002) Newcastle, ON: Penumbra Press, 2010.

Dyas, A.E. “Women’s Work at the Exhibition.” Toronto Saturday Night 7 Sept. 1912: 29, 36.

Heller, Jules and Nancy. North American Women Artists of the Twentieth Century. New York: Garland, 1995.

Hughes, Margaret E. “A Guide to Canadian Painters.” Ontario Library Review 24.3 (May-Aug. 1940).

Johnston, E. F. B. “Painting and Sculpture in Canada.” Canada and Its Provinces. Toronto: Glasgow, Brook and Co, 1914.

Kerr, Estelle Muriel. “Cover Art.” The Canadian Courier 11 Apr. 1908.

MacBeth, Madge. “Canadian Women in the Arts.” Maclean’s 27.12 (Oct. 1914): 23-25, 105-108.

MacDonald, Colin S. The Dictionary of Canadian Artists. (Volumes 1-8 by Colin S. MacDonald, and volume 9 by Anne Newlands and Judith Parker) Ottawa: National Gallery of Canada, 2009.

MacTavish, Newton. Ars Longa. Toronto: The Ontario Publishing Co., 1925.

MacTavish, Newton. The Fine Arts in Canada. Toronto: Macmillan, 1925.

Morgan-Powell, S. “Spring Exhibition At Art Gallery Is Along Normal Lines.” Star 21 Mar. 1923.

Murray, Joan. Ontario Society of Artists: 100 Years. Toronto: Art Gallery of Ontario, 1972.

Ontario Society of Artists. Catalogue of the Fiftieth Annual Exhibition of the Ontario Society of Artists, 1922. Toronto: 1922.

Ontario Society of Artists. Catalogue of the Fifty-First Annual Exhibition of the Ontario Society of Artists, 1923. 1923.

Ontario Society of Artists. Catalogue of the Fifty-Fourth Annual Exhibition of the Ontario Society of Artists, 1926. 1926.

Ontario Society of Artists. Catalogue of the Fifty-Ninth Annual Exhibition of the Ontario Society of Artists, 1931. 1931.

Ontario Society of Artists. Catalogue of the Fifty-Second Annual Exhibition of the Ontario Society of Artists, 1924. Toronto: Ontario Society of Artists, 1924.

Ontario Society of Artists. Catalogue of the Fifty-Third Annual Exhibition of the Ontario Society of Artists, 1925. 1925.

Ontario Society of Artists. Catalogue of the Forty-Ninth Annual Exhibition of the Ontario Society of Artists, 1921. Toronto: Ontario Society of Artists, 1921.

Ontario Society of Artists. Catalogue of the Sixtieth Annual Exhibition of the Ontario Society of Artists, 1932. Toronto: 1932.

Ontario Society of Artists. Catalogue of the Sixty-Fourth Annual Exhibition of the Ontario Society of Artists, 1936. Toronto: 1936.

Ontario Society of Artists. Catalogue of the Sixty-Seventh Annual Exhibition of the Ontario Society of Artists, 1939. 1939.

Ontario Society of Artists. Catalogue of the Sixty-Sixth Annual Exhibition of the Ontario Society of Artists, 1938. Toronto: 1938.

Ontario Society of Artists. Catalogue of the Sixty-Third Annual Exhibition of the Ontario Society of Artists, 1935. 1935.

Ontario Society of Artists. Catalogue of the Thirtieth Annual Exhibition of the Ontario Society of Artists, 1902. 1902.

Ontario Society of Artists. Catalogue of the Thirty-Fifth Annual Exhibition of the Ontario Society of Artists, 1907. 1907.

Ontario Society of Artists. President’s Annual Report, 1923. Toronto: 1923.

Robert Simpson Company Galleries. Small Picture Exhibition by Members of the O.S.A. Toronto: 1924.

Robson, Albert Henry. Canadian Landscape Painters. Toronto: Ryerson Press, 1932.

Tippett, Maria. By a Lady. Toronto: Viking, 1992.

Writings by

Kerr, Estelle. “Concerning Canadian Art.” Courier (7 Oct. 1916?).

Kerr, Estelle. “Do You Speak Spanish?” Toronto Star Weekly (21 Aug. 1926): 21.

Kerr, Estelle. “How Henri Won His Maple Leaf.” Canadian Magazine 54.3 (Jan. 1920): 220-22.

Kerr, Estelle. “I Seek Lodgings in Paris.” Toronto Star Weekly (14 May 1927).

Kerr, Estelle. “In the Vineyards of Burgundy.” Canadian Magazine 52.2 (Dec. 1918): 631-35.

Kerr, Estelle. “Monsieur Le Fou: The Tale of a Misunderstanding – Reggie Is Locked Up But Makes His Escape.” Toronto Saturday Night (16 Jul. 1927).

Kerr, Estelle. “Recommended Hotels.” Toronto Star Weekly (11 Dec. 1926).

Kerr, Estelle. “The Artist.” Toronto Saturday Night 26: 35 (7 Jun. 1913): 29.

Kerr, Estelle. “The Etcher’s Point of View.” Canadian Magazine 48 (Dec. 1916): 152-59.

Kerr, Estelle. “Uncle Norman’s Portrait.” Canadian Magazine 50.6 (Apr. 1918): 489-495.

Kerr, Estelle. “Women Sculptors in Toronto.” Women’s Saturday Night (20 Jun. 1914).

Kerr, Estelle M. “Royal Castles in France.” Canadian Magazine 64.4 (Feb. 1916): 282-94.

Full text pdfs of exhibition reviews

Women’s Art Association of Canada (Tor) – 8th Annual Spring Exhibition: (Robert’s Art Galleries, April 04, 1896) “Women And Art. Annual Exhibition of the Woman’s Art Association. Purely Canadian Exhibits. Great Discretion Exercised in the Selection of Paintings. Lieutenant-Governor Kirkpatrick and Party Present at the Opening-The Exhibit Open Till the 17.”  Globe and Mail  April 07, 1896.  p.8.   Full-text pdf

Women’s Art Association of Canada (Tor) – Thirteenth Annual Exhibition: (Confederation Life Bldng, March 26, 1901) “Work of Lady Artists. Exhibition of the Woman’s Art Association. Choice and Attractive Studies of Life and Scenery – “Private View Day” a Great Success.”  Globe and Mail (Toronto)  March 27, 1901.  p.12.   Full-text pdf

Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, February 28, 1902) “O. S. A. Exhibition. More Pictures and of Better Quality Than Last Year. A Very Pleasing Collection-A List of the Less Distinguished- The Public Opening Will Take Place This Evening.”  Globe (Toronto)  February 28, 1902.  p.7.   Full-text pdf

Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, March 31, 1911) M.L.A.F..  “Women Artists Are Fast Increasing in Numbers. They Total Over a Third of the Exhibitors at the Present Show – Descriptions of Some of the More Notable Canvasses.”  Toronto Star  April 07, 1911.  p.10.   Full-text pdf

Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibtion: (Toronto, November 23, 1911) M.L.A.F..  “200 Paintings at the R.C.A Exhibition. Oils, Water Colors, and Architectural Drawings Fill Art Museum Galleries. Local Sculptors Absent.”  Toronto Star  December 02, 1911.  p.11.   Full-text pdf

Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, April 05, 1913) “Ontario Society of Artists.”  The Globe (Toronto)  April 05, 1913.  p.10.   Full-text pdf

Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, March 1914) “Strong and Varied Pictures at the O.S.A. Exhibition.”  The Globe (Toronto)  March 14, 1914.  p.10.   Full-text pdf

Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, March 1914) Hector Charlesworth.  “Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition.”  Toronto Saturday Night  March 21, 1914.  p.5.   Full-text pdf

Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, November 19, 1914) “Vivid Display of Color at R.C.A. Exhibition. Princess Patricia Again Among the Exhibitors-Striking Landscape Effects and Scene of Canadian Life.”  Evening Telegram (Toronto)  November 19, 1914.  p.15.   Full-text pdf

Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, November 19, 1914) “Art and Artists.”  Globe (Toronto)  November 28, 1914.  p.7.   Full-text pdf

Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, March 03, 1915) “Color and Originality at the O.S.A. Exhibition.”  The Globe (Toronto)  March 13, 1915.  p.10.   Full-text pdf

Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, March 03, 1915) Irene B. Wrenshall.  “Toronto.”  American Art News  March 20, 1915.  13.24: p.6.   Full-text pdf

Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, March 03, 1915) Hector Charlesworth.  “O.S.A.’s Exhibition 1915.”  Toronto Saturday Night  March 20, 1915.  p.4.   Full-text pdf

Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Montreal, November 18, 1915) “Royal Canadian Academy of Arts Open Galleries. 288 Fine Pictures on Exhibition at 37th Annual Exhibition.”  Montreal Herald  November 19, 1915.  p.5.   Full-text pdf

Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Montreal, November 18, 1915) S. Morgan-Powell.  “Exhibition is Here for Month. Some Attractive Works Along Interesting Lines are Hung. Frames Show an Improvement. Several Artists Manifest Determination to Break from Tradition.”  Montreal Star  November 22, 1915.  p.2.   Full-text pdf

Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, March 11, 1916) M.L.A.F..  “Some Pictures at the Art Gallery.”  Toronto Star  March 11, 1916.  p.5.   Full-text pdf

Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, March 11, 1916) “Extremes Meet at O.S.A. Show.”  The Globe (Toronto)  March 11, 1916.  p.8.   Full-text pdf

Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, March 11, 1916) Hector Charlesworth.  “Pictures That Can be Heard. A Survey of the Ontario Society of Artists Exhibition.”  Toronto Saturday Night  March 18, 1916.  p.5.   Full-text pdf

Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Montreal, November 16, 1916) “Royal Academy Has Many Fine Works on View.”  Montreal Daily Mail  November 17, 1916.  p.5.   Full-text pdf

Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Montreal, November 16, 1916) “Art Works on View Set High Standard.”  Gazette (Montreal)  November 17, 1916.  p.7.   Full-text pdf

Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Montreal, November 16, 1916) “London, Ont., Artist Wins Scholarship. Royal Canadian Academy Has Many Interesting Pictures.”  Globe and Mail (Toronto)  November 21, 1916.  p. 5.   Full-text pdf

Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, March 01, 1917) “Many Fine Paintings at O.S.A. Exhibition.”  The Globe (Toronto)  March 10, 1917.  p.21.   Full-text pdf

Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, March 01, 1917) “They Do Not Merely Pose As Painters. Canadian Women Artists Have Done Distinguishing Work.”  Toronto Star  March 24, 1917.  p.14.   Full-text pdf

Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, March 01, 1917) Hector Charlesworth.  “Good Pictures at O.S.A. Exhibition.”  Toronto Saturday Night  March 24, 1917.  p.2.   Full-text pdf

Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, March 01, 1917) “Toronto”  American Art News  March 31, 1917.  15.25: p.6.   Full-text pdf

The Joint Annual Exhibition of the RCA and the OSA: (Toronto, April 05, 1918) “Local Art World Gathers for Opening at the “Grange.” Art Galleries and Combined Exhibition of Royal Canadian Academy and Ontario Society of Artists Attract Many.”  Toronto Star  April 04, 1918.  p.17.   Full-text pdf

The Joint Annual Exhibition of the RCA and the OSA: (Toronto; Montreal (Fall), April 05, 1918) “Academy Opens in New Gallery. With O.S.A., Holds Notable Exhibition of Pictures and Sculpture.”  Globe (Toronto)  April 06, 1918.  p.14.   Full-text pdf

Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Montreal, November 18, 1920) “Art of Canadians Well Represented.”  Gazette (Montreal)  November 19, 1920.  p.9.   Full-text pdf

Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, March 18, 1922) M.L.F..  “Some Surprises In The Art Exhibition. Number of New Painters Come to the Front and Others take New Twist.”  Toronto Star  March 18, 1922.  p.3.   Full-text pdf

Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Montreal, November 16, 1922) “Au salon de nos artistes. Etudes sur quelques toiles.”  La Presse  November 25, 1922.  p.2.   Full-text pdf

Art Association of Montreal Annual Spring Exhibition: (Montreal, March 16, 1923) “Montreal Artists Well Represented. High Standard Set at Spring Exhibition of Art Association.”  Gazette (Montreal)  March 16, 1923.  p.6.   Full-text pdf

Art Association of Montreal Annual Spring Exhibition: (Montreal, March 16, 1923) S. Morgan-Powell.  “Spring Exhibition at Art Gallery is Along Normal Lines.”  Montreal Star  March 21, 1923.  p.6.   Full-text pdf

Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, November 22, 1923) A. S. Wrenshall.  “Toronto”  American Art News  December 01, 1923.  22.8: p.9.   Full-text pdf

Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, March 08, 1924) M.L.F..  “All Paintings So Good Hard to Know the Best. Fine Pictures Chosen for Exhibition of Ontario Society of Artists-Canadian Scenes-Human element Introduced-Every-Day Subject.”  Toronto Star  March 08, 1924.  p.3.   Full-text pdf

Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Ottawa, November 20, 1924) “Royal Arts Academy. Forty-sixth Exhibition of Royal Canadian Academy of Arts In the National Gallery of Canada.”  Ottawa Evening Journal  November 20, 1924.  p.2.   Full-text pdf

Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Montreal, November 19, 1925) “Fine Work Marks R.C.A. Exhibition. New Schools Offer Contrast to Solidly-Based Qualities of Older and Established Painters.”  Gazette (Montreal)  November 20, 1925.  p.10.   Full-text pdf

Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, March 06, 1926) Hector Charlesworth.  “Ontario Society of Artists Present Year’s Exhibition of Higher Average Quality Than for Several Years.”  Toronto Saturday Night  April 03, 1926.  p.5.   Full-text pdf

Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, March 1935) Lucy Van Gogh.  “World of Art.”  Toronto Saturday Night  March 09, 1935.  p.15.   Full-text pdf

Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition.: (Montreal, November 21, 1935) “The Fifty-Sixth Exhibition of the Canadian Academy.”  Montreal Star  November 22, 1935.  p.13.   Full-text pdf

Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition.: (Montreal, November 21, 1935) “Art Gallery Scene of R.C.A. Exhibition. Paintings and Other Works from Various Canadian Points Total 444. Much Good Portraiture.”  Gazette (Montreal)  November 23, 1935.  p.19.   Full-text pdf