FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 23, 2014, KLEINBURG ON—The exhibition Morrice and Lyman in the Company of Matisse, now in its last weeks at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, has captivated visitors with its unique pairing of works by two pioneers of modern art in Canada, James Wilson Morrice (1865-1924) and John Lyman (1886-1967), and the renowned French master, Henri Matisse (1869-1954). The exhibition, which closes on January 4, features more than 150 works depicting some of the world’s most picturesque painting locales, including Venice, Paris, North Africa, and the West Indies.

Described by James Adams of The Globe and Mail as “a rich, ravishing show,” and by Robert Fulford of the National Post as “remarkable” and “ambitious,” Morrice and Lyman in the Company of Matisse has been drawing visitors to the McMichael since the exhibition opened to the public on October 10, exceeding last year’s attendance for the same period.

Morrice and Lyman in the Company of Matisse has received an incredibly enthusiastic response from visitors and critics alike,” said Dr. Victoria Dickenson, Executive Director and CEO of the McMichael. “It is a truly remarkable exhibition and a delight for visitors of all ages. Bring family, bring friends and visitors to the McMichael over the holiday season to experience the warmth of these sun-drenched and luminous masterworks of Canadian art.”     

“Curating Morrice and Lyman’s art in the context of their European contemporary, Matisse, reveals a fresh dimension in the history of Canadian art,” said Ash Prakash, Chairman of the A.K. Prakash Foundation, Exhibition Patron. “Their vision is cosmopolitan and infused with life and passion. We are delighted to help it reach a larger audience.”

“At RBC Wealth Management, we believe the arts provide a way to connect us to the world, share ideas, and learn different perspectives,” said Rebecca Mooney, Vice President and Head of Brand & Marketing, RBC Wealth Management, Presenting Sponsor. “We would like to congratulate the McMichael on the success of this exhibition which has allowed us to explore the works of two great Canadian artists in a global context”.

In addition to rarely seen canvases and drawings by Morrice, Lyman, and Matisse, the exhibition features loaned works by Robert Wakeham Pilot (1898-1967), Will Ogilvie (1901-1989), and Franklin Brownell (1857-1946), as well as sketches by J.E.H. MacDonald and A.Y. Jackson from the McMichael’s permanent collection.

Morrice and Lyman in the Company of Matisse is accompanied by a richly illustrated 256-page catalogue, co-published by the McMichael.

The exhibition is organized and circulated by the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, a government corporation funded by the Ministry of Culture and Communications of Québec. The Museum acknowledges the generous support of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and the National Gallery of Canada.

Morrice and Lyman in the Company of Matisse has received generous support from Exhibition Patron, the A.K. Prakash Foundation; Presenting Sponsor, RBC Wealth Management; as well as financial assistance from the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund.

About the McMichael Canadian Art Collection

The McMichael Canadian Art Collection is an agency of the Government of Ontario and acknowledges the support of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, and the McMichael Canadian Art Foundation. It is the foremost venue in the country showcasing the Group of Seven and their contemporaries. In addition to touring exhibitions, its permanent collection consists of almost 6,000 artworks by Canadian artists, including paintings by the Group of Seven and their contemporaries, as well as First Nations, Métis and Inuit artists. The gallery is located on 100 acres of northern landscape and hiking trails at 10365 Islington Avenue, Kleinburg, north of Major Mackenzie Drive in the City of Vaughan. For more information: mcmichael.com.

The Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec: A Museum in a Park

Located in the heart of Québec City’s magnificent National Battlefields Park, one of the most splendid urban parks in the world, the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec has a stunning view of this oasis of greenery as well as of the St. Lawrence River. A magnificent sculpture garden also borders the Musée’s buildings. The Musée’s collection provides a comprehensive overview of the history of Quebec art. With more than 38,000 works dating from the seventeenth century to the present day, this is the most complete and most commanding collection of Quebec art anywhere. Paintings, sculptures, drawings, photographs, prints, and decorative art objects highlight Québec’s heritage in the Musée’s numerous exhibition galleries. Four monographic galleries have recently been devoted to four major figures of Quebec modern art: Jean Paul Lemieux, Alfred Pellan, Fernand Leduc and Jean-Paul Riopelle.

At present, the MNBAQ is made up of three pavilions. The neo-classical architecture of the Gérard Morisset pavilion impresses with its sculptured ceilings, columns topped with capitals, and noble materials. The Charles Baillairgé pavilion is fascinating, because for more than a century it served as the Québec City jail. Some of the building’s jail cells have been preserved. The central pavilion, full of light with its transparent glass walls, granite facing, and rooftop garden, was inaugurated in 1991. The hub of the Musée, it is the central point connecting the other pavilions. In 2015, the Musée will open a new pavilion with contemporary lines, the Pierre Lassonde pavilion, a spectacular design by the architectural firm OMA. This signature building will anchor the future Quartier des arts. For more information: mnbaq.org.

About the A.K. Prakash Foundation

The mission of the A.K. Prakash Foundation is to advance the scholarship, appreciation, and understanding of Canadian historical art, and to improve health outcomes and quality of life in Canada and abroad. The Foundation addresses these two foci by making grants to charity partners.  

About RBC’s Commitment to Community and Sustainability

Royal Bank of Canada (RY on TSX and NYSE) is Canada’s largest bank and one of the largest banks in the world, based on market capitalization. We employ approximately 78,000 full- and part-time employees who serve more than 16 million personal, business, public sector and institutional clients through offices in Canada, the U.S. and 38 other countries. For more information, please visit rbc.com. RBC is recognized among the world’s financial, social and environmental leaders and is listed on the 2014 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, the DJSI North American Index, the Jantzi Social Index and the FTSE4Good Index. RBC is one of Canada’s Greenest Employers, and one of Canada’s 50 Most Socially Responsible Corporations.

 

RBC supports a broad range of community initiatives through donations, sponsorships and employee volunteer activities. In 2013, we contributed more than $104 million to causes worldwide, including donations and community investments of more than $69 million and $35 million in sponsorships. Learn more at www.rbc.com/community-sustainability.

About the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund

The Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund (OCAF) was established in 1999. It has two aims: to increase cultural tourism by providing investments to assist Ontario organizations to develop, promote and present one-off or first time events, or a significant expansion of existing activity, which are designed to attract new tourists and visitors to cultural events; and to increase the earned revenue capability of the applicant organization.

 

Media Contact:

Rachel Weiner

Media Relations and Communications Coordinator

McMichael Canadian Art Collection

905.893.1121 ext. 2210

rweiner@mcmichael.com