Llewellyn Petley-Jones: Canadian Impressionist
The exhibition examines Canadian Impressionist, Llewellyn Petley-Jones, during his years abroad studying in Europe and his artistic response to the Canadian landscape upon his eventual return. From July 5 – 26th, the gallery displays the artist’s international journey, from winding cobblestone streets of Europe to the expansive vistas of prairie skies. Setting up a studio in Montparnasse in Paris, the influence of French Impressionists forever impacted the young Canadian. It was here that the artist exhibited with the Societe Nationale des Beaux-Arts. His success continued with paintings being accepted by the Salon d’Automne.
The stylistic innovation of Impressionism stayed with him throughout his travels and artistic career. His experience of urban life, in what was the Modern Art capital of the world, lent the artist opportunities to study light and atmosphere within the bustling city. Following his foray in France, Llewellyn returned to the prairies of his childhood.
Invited as a top representative of Canadian landscape painters, Llewellyn was commissioned alongside members of the Group of Seven, AY Jackson, AJ Casson and Edwin Holgate, by the Canadian Pacific Railway. The artists were each tasked with painting a mural for a railway car interior in 1954. Llewellyn’s subject was the Waterton Lakes National Park in southern Alberta. The murals were taken out of the railcars and are now in the collection at the Canadian Science and Technology Museum.
Llewellyn Petley-Jones honed his craft in Europe, bringing his Impressionist landscapes from Parisian streets to the prairies of Alberta. Find his paintings at the Petley Jones Gallery.