Arthur Philemon Coleman
Mountains and Valley Autumnal
1890s

About the Item

Serene cloudy landscape by Arthur Philemon Coleman (Canada, 1852-1939). From atop a hill, the viewer looks across a valley. There are a few outcroppings of trees, as well as a farmhouse and livestock. In the far distance, rolling hills with exposed rock are seen in the distance. Signed "A. Coleman" in the lower left corner. Presented in a double mat with foam core backing. Image size: 9.75"H x 16"W Mat size: 14.88"H x 21.75"W Some age toning to paper and an age toned section is in the center of the painting running from top to bottom. Arthur Coleman is a fine example of that rare bird, a polished amateur artist whose drawings and paintings stand comfortably beside those of many professionals. He was active during the time when sketching and painting was ceding to photography the task of recording the visible world. Although he was also a photographer, painting was, for him, both a poetic and a descriptive pursuit, a way of wrapping an artistic expression around a phenomenon he was interested in or moved by. Thus motivated, Coleman's paintings give much joy and command a good deal of respect. This is the more surprising, perhaps given that he was a geologist and that at Victoria College we have a tradition of hatching poets rather than painters. (On the Art of A. P. Coleman by David P. Silcox 1994) A.P. Coleman was an excellent student and a gifted artist. He chose science over art as a career, and decided to specialize in Geology. Coleman obtained his Ph.D. from Breslau University, Germany in 1881 after training in chemistry, mineralogy, botany and zoology. Coleman continued to draw and paint throughout his life; trips and expeditions were sketched, photographed, and recorded. Beside Coleman’s geological investigations, the scientist observed his environment, the people, the flora and the fauna. An excellent writer and public speaker, Coleman extended the boundaries of his fellow citizens by teaching, lecturing, writing and exhibiting. Arthur Coleman is a fine example of that rare bird, a polished amateur artist whose drawings and paintings stand comfortably beside those of many professionals. He was active during the time when sketching and painting was ceding to photography the task of recording the visible world. Although he was also a photographer, painting was, for him, both a poetic and a descriptive pursuit, a way of wrapping an artistic expression around a phenomenon he was interested in or moved by. Thus motivated, Coleman's paintings give much joy and command a good deal of respect. This is the more surprising, perhaps given that he was a geologist and that at Victoria College we have a tradition of hatching poets rather than painters. (On the Art of A. P. Coleman by David P. Silcox 1994)

Creator:

Arthur Philemon Coleman (1852 - 1939, Canadian)

Creation Year:

1890s

Dimensions:

Height: 14.88 in (37.8 cm)Width: 21.75 in (55.25 cm)Depth: 0.25 in (6.35 mm)

Medium:

Paper,Watercolor

Movement & Style:

Naturalistic

Period:

Late 19th Century