Cornelius Krieghoff
Encyclopedia
Cornelius David Krieghoff (June 19, 1815 – March 8, 1872) is probably the most popular Canadian
painter
of the 19th century. Krieghoff is most famous for his paintings of Canadian landscapes and Canadian life outdoors, which were sought-after in his own time as they are today. He is particularly famous for his winter scenes, some of which he painted in a number of variants (e.g. Running the Toll).
. He was initially taught by his father and then entered the Academy of Fine Arts in Germany about 1830. He moved to New York in 1836, and enlisted in the United States Army in 1837. While in the army, he made sketches of the Second Seminole War
from which he later produced oil paintings. He deserted the army on May 5, 1840. Later that year, together with his wife Émilie Gauthier, he moved to Montreal, where he participated in the Salon de la Société des Artistes de Montréal. While in Montreal, he befriended the Mohawks
living on the Kahnawake Indian Reservation and made many sketches of them from which he later produced oil paintings.
Krieghoff traveled to Paris in 1844, where he copied masterpieces at the Louvre
under the direction of Michel Martin Drolling
(1789–1851). The Krieghoffs returned to Montreal in 1846, and in 1847 he was invited to participate in the first exhibition of the Toronto Society of Arts. He and his family moved to Quebec City in 1853. He returned to Europe in 1854, visiting Italy and Germany. In 1855, he returned to Canada. He lived in Europe from 1863 to 1868 and then moved to Chicago to retire. He died in Chicago on March 8, 1872 at the age of 56 and is buried in Graceland Cemetery
in Chicago. A decade later, on June 8, 1881, the Great Quebec Fire destroyed many of his sketches, then owned by John S. Budden, who had lived with the artist for thirteen years.
The Art Gallery of Hamilton
(Hamilton, Canada), the Art Gallery of Ontario
(Toronto, Canada), the Beaverbrook Art Gallery
(Fredericton, Canada), the Brooklyn Museum
(New York City), the Glenbow Museum
(Calgary, Canada), the McCord Museum
(Montreal, Canada), the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
(Montreal, Canada), Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec
(Quebec, Canada), the National Gallery of Canada
(Ottawa, Canada), the New York Public Library
(New York City), and the Rockwell Museum of Western Art (Corning, New York), the Winnipeg Art Gallery
(Winnipeg, Canada) are among the public collections holding work by Cornelius Krieghoff.
).
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
of the 19th century. Krieghoff is most famous for his paintings of Canadian landscapes and Canadian life outdoors, which were sought-after in his own time as they are today. He is particularly famous for his winter scenes, some of which he painted in a number of variants (e.g. Running the Toll).
Life and career
Krieghoff was born in AmsterdamAmsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
. He was initially taught by his father and then entered the Academy of Fine Arts in Germany about 1830. He moved to New York in 1836, and enlisted in the United States Army in 1837. While in the army, he made sketches of the Second Seminole War
Seminole Wars
The Seminole Wars, also known as the Florida Wars, were three conflicts in Florida between the Seminole — the collective name given to the amalgamation of various groups of native Americans and Black people who settled in Florida in the early 18th century — and the United States Army...
from which he later produced oil paintings. He deserted the army on May 5, 1840. Later that year, together with his wife Émilie Gauthier, he moved to Montreal, where he participated in the Salon de la Société des Artistes de Montréal. While in Montreal, he befriended the Mohawks
Mohawk nation
Mohawk are the most easterly tribe of the Iroquois confederation. They call themselves Kanien'gehaga, people of the place of the flint...
living on the Kahnawake Indian Reservation and made many sketches of them from which he later produced oil paintings.
Krieghoff traveled to Paris in 1844, where he copied masterpieces at the Louvre
Louvre
The Musée du Louvre – in English, the Louvre Museum or simply the Louvre – is one of the world's largest museums, the most visited art museum in the world and a historic monument. A central landmark of Paris, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement...
under the direction of Michel Martin Drolling
Michel Martin Drolling
Michel Martin Drolling was a neoclassic French painter , painter of history and portraitist.-Biographie:He was born in Paris. There he began painting under the supervision of his father, the painter Martin Drolling, then after 1806 he studied with Jacques Louis David. For his Colère of Achilles...
(1789–1851). The Krieghoffs returned to Montreal in 1846, and in 1847 he was invited to participate in the first exhibition of the Toronto Society of Arts. He and his family moved to Quebec City in 1853. He returned to Europe in 1854, visiting Italy and Germany. In 1855, he returned to Canada. He lived in Europe from 1863 to 1868 and then moved to Chicago to retire. He died in Chicago on March 8, 1872 at the age of 56 and is buried in Graceland Cemetery
Graceland Cemetery
Graceland Cemetery is a large Victorian era cemetery located in the north side community area of Uptown, in the city of Chicago, Illinois, USA. Established in 1860, its main entrance is at the intersection of Clark Street and Irving Park Road...
in Chicago. A decade later, on June 8, 1881, the Great Quebec Fire destroyed many of his sketches, then owned by John S. Budden, who had lived with the artist for thirteen years.
The Art Gallery of Hamilton
Art Gallery of Hamilton
Art Gallery of Hamilton, is located in the heart of downtown Hamilton, Ontario on King Street West and is one of Canada’s oldest galleries with a collection of over 9,000 works of art.-History:...
(Hamilton, Canada), the Art Gallery of Ontario
Art Gallery of Ontario
Under the direction of its CEO Matthew Teitelbaum, the AGO embarked on a $254 million redevelopment plan by architect Frank Gehry in 2004, called Transformation AGO. The new addition would require demolition of the 1992 Post-Modernist wing by Barton Myers and Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg...
(Toronto, Canada), the Beaverbrook Art Gallery
Beaverbrook Art Gallery
The Beaverbrook Art Gallery is a small art gallery on the southwest bank of the Saint John River at the edge of the central business district of Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada...
(Fredericton, Canada), the Brooklyn Museum
Brooklyn Museum
The Brooklyn Museum is an encyclopedia art museum located in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. At 560,000 square feet, the museum holds New York City's second largest art collection with roughly 1.5 million works....
(New York City), the Glenbow Museum
Glenbow Museum
The Glenbow Museum in Calgary is one of Western Canada's largest museums, with over 93,000 square feet of exhibition space in more than 20 galleries, showcasing a selection of the Glenbow's collection of over a million objects....
(Calgary, Canada), the McCord Museum
McCord Museum
The McCord Museum is a public research and teaching museum dedicated to the preservation, study, diffusion, and appreciation of Canadian history...
(Montreal, Canada), the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is a major museum in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1860, making it Canada's oldest art institution, it moved to its current location in 1912 thanks to a large donation from businessman James Ross....
(Montreal, Canada), Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec
Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec
The Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec is a museum in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada gathering approximately 25,000 works essentially produced in Quebec, or by Quebec artists, some of which dating from the 18th century. It also houses a library since 1987...
(Quebec, Canada), the National Gallery of Canada
National Gallery of Canada
The National Gallery of Canada , located in the capital city Ottawa, Ontario, is one of Canada's premier art galleries.The Gallery is now housed in a glass and granite building on Sussex Drive with a notable view of the Canadian Parliament buildings on Parliament Hill. The acclaimed structure was...
(Ottawa, Canada), the New York Public Library
New York Public Library
The New York Public Library is the largest public library in North America and is one of the United States' most significant research libraries...
(New York City), and the Rockwell Museum of Western Art (Corning, New York), the Winnipeg Art Gallery
Winnipeg Art Gallery
The Winnipeg Art Gallery is a public art gallery that was founded in 1912. It is Western Canada's oldest civic gallery and the 6th largest in the country...
(Winnipeg, Canada) are among the public collections holding work by Cornelius Krieghoff.
Auction record
The auction record for a painting by Cornelius Krieghoff is $158,350 (171,000 Canadian dollars). This record was set by Caughnawaga Indians at Camp, a 17.5 by 26.5 inch oil painting on canvas sold May 29, 2007 at Joyner Waddington (TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
).
External links
- Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
- National Gallery of Canada
- Cornelius Krieghoff in ArtCyclopedia
- Smithsonian American Art Museum Art Inventories Catalog
Works
- French Canadian Habitants Playing at Cards (1848 ), lithograph with watercolour on wove paper
- The Sleigh Race on the St-Lawrence at Quebec (1852), oil on canvas
- Montmorency Falls (1853), oil on canvas
- The Habitant Farm (1856)
- Self-portrait (1855), oil on canvas
- Bilking the Toll (1860), oil on canvas