Francis Hans Johnston, ARCA, OSA, CSPWC (Canadian, 1888-1949)
'Epic of the North'
signed 'Franz Johnston' (lower left); inscribed 'Epic of the North/by/Franz Johnston/A.R.C.A O.S.A.' (verso)
gouache
37.8 x 25.7cm (14 7/8 x 10 1/8in).
Footnotes:
Provenance
With A.M. Cunningham & Son, Hamilton, Canada.
Private collection, UK.

Francis (Frank) Hans Johnston was born in Toronto and studied at the Central Ontario School of Art. He was a founder member of the Group of Seven, a band of Canadian landscape painters in the early 20th century who believed that a distinct Canadian art could be developed with direct contact with nature. Other members of the group were Arthur Lismer, Frederick Varley, Tom Thomson, J. E. H. MacDonald, and Franklin Carmichael. They met when working for the design firm Grip Ltd in Toronto, Canada. They were joined by A.Y. Jackson in 1913 after they were introduced at the Arts and Letters Club of Toronto where they gathered to share their works. The Group of Seven is often considered as the first major Canadian art movement, and became popular around the world. Johnston's association with the Group of Seven was short lived and by 1921 he had left Toronto to become principal at the Winnipeg School of Art in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In 1927, he changed his name from Frank to Franz. The 'Epic of the North' is a vibrant example of Johnston's style: the angle is small with trees in the foreground, the colour palette is strong and his fascination with the qualities of light is evident.

Examined out of the frame, the work appears to be in good colour. There is rubbing to some of the extreme edges of the work, which is not visible when framed. There are a few minor scuffs and surface scratches through the work and some spots of surface dirt are visible. The work is on artist's board.

Overall the work appears to be in good presentable order and ready to hang.