Morrice in Venice 

The McMichael proudly presents Morrice in Venice, an exhibition celebrating James Wilson Morrice’s evocative depictions of one of Europe’s most enchanting cities. Inspired by the pioneering research of Sandra Paikowsky, this exhibition showcases a stunning selection of Morrice’s canvases, pochades, and sketches, revealing his unique vision of Venice.

James Wilson Morrice (1865–1924) was the first Canadian artist to make regular visits to Venice, traveling there frequently from the mid-1890s to around 1908. In an era when Venice was the premier destination for artists across Europe, Morrice distinguished himself as one of the few foreign painters who returned repeatedly to its storied canals and piazzas. His Venetian works earned widespread acclaim, appearing in exhibitions throughout Europe, including Paris and London, as well as in Toronto and Montreal, his hometown.

Unlike many of his contemporaries, who gravitated toward sweeping, picturesque views of Venice, Morrice focused on capturing its quieter, more intimate moments. His paintings reveal the subtle beauty of the city’s secluded calles, tranquil squares, and lively public spaces, rendered with a masterful interplay of light and colour. Whether viewed from a café table or through the winding paths of Venice’s labyrinthine streets, Morrice’s works offer a deeply personal and atmospheric glimpse into the soul of the city.

Guided by the expertise of Paikowsky, a preeminent authority on Morrice’s Venetian art and author of James Wilson Morrice: Paintings and Drawings of Venice, this exhibition explores the artist’s themes, inspirations, and his use of Venice as a site for creative experimentation. Organized as a visual journey through the city, the exhibition offers a window into the artist’s creative process and an opportunity to see Venice through the eyes of one of Canada’s most accomplished artists.

Sandra Paikowsky, C.M., is a Canadian art historian, academic, curator, and writer whose career spans five decades. A professor emerita at Concordia University, she was the long-time Editor and Publisher of the Journal of Canadian Art History and was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2015 for her significant contributions to the development of Canadian art history as a discipline. From 1981 to 1992, she served as the director and curator of the Concordia Art Gallery. Among her many publications, recent texts focus on Montreal women abstract painters, modernism in Canadian representational art, art institutions in the Maritimes, and James Wilson Morrice’s paintings of Venice.