Marc-Aurèle Fortin, born in 1888 in the small village of Ste-Rose, north of Montreal, is one of Canada’s most distinctive and prolific painters. His artistic journey, marked by personal struggle and relentless creativity, has left a lasting imprint on Canadian art.
Early Life and Artistic Training
Fortin’s path to becoming an artist was anything but straightforward. His father, a judge, disapproved of his son’s interest in art, considering it an impractical pursuit. Despite this, Fortin’s passion for painting and drawing led him to study art during the evenings while working various jobs to support himself. He attended the École du Plateau, studying under Ludger Larose from 1906 to 1908, and later, the Council of Arts & Manufactures in Montreal under Edmond Dyonnet.
Around 1908, Fortin took a job with the post office department in Montreal, which eventually led him westward to Edmonton, where he worked as a bank clerk and saved enough money to pursue further studies. His determination took him to the Art Institute of Chicago, where he studied under Edward J. Timmons, and then to New York City and Boston.
Artistic Development and Influences
Returning to Montreal in 1914, Fortin began to focus on painting landscapes in his native Ste-Rose, as well as in Piedmont and Montreal Harbour. A brief trip to France and England between 1920 and 1922 influenced his style, broadening his artistic horizons. He exhibited in Chicago in 1929 and in Pretoria, South Africa, in 1930, gaining international recognition.
Fortin’s European travels in 1935, particularly in southern France and northern Italy, further enriched his artistic vision. Upon his return to Canada, he exhibited at the T. Eaton Co. in Montreal. His work was characterized by bold experimentation and a unique perspective, as noted by St. George Burgoyne of The Gazette, who highlighted Fortin’s courageous individuality and suggested that his treatment of subjects might be more effective on a larger scale.
Recognition and Style
Fortin’s work gained significant recognition in the late 1930s. In 1938, his paintings were included in an exhibition at the Tate Gallery in London, A Century of Canadian Art. This prestigious event featured two of his landscapes from Hochelaga, underscoring his importance in the Canadian art scene.
His style, often oscillating between decorative imagery and Fauvism, was both powerful and expressive. Fortin’s landscapes, such as Landscape, Ahuntsic and L'Orme à Pont-Viau, showcased his ability to capture the essence of Quebec’s natural beauty with vibrant color and dynamic composition. His work was celebrated for its resourcefulness and effective use of new pictorial angles, particularly in his watercolors.
Later Years and Legacy
Fortin’s career was not without hardship. In 1955, he became severely ill, leading to the amputation of his legs, which halted his painting for seven years. Despite these challenges, Fortin eventually returned to painting, working from his wheelchair. His determination to continue creating art in the face of adversity is a testament to his dedication and passion for his craft.
A retrospective show at the National Gallery of Canada in 1963 marked a significant moment in Fortin’s career, with art critic Jean-René Ostiguy noting how Fortin’s style, after his European travels, came close to that of the Group of Seven but retained a raw, expressive quality that was uniquely his own.
Tragically, Fortin’s later years were marked by neglect from the political figures who had the power to support him. He died in 1970 at the age of 72, in a sanatorium in Macamic, Quebec, far from the bustling art world that had once celebrated his talent. Despite this, his legacy endures through the estimated 6,000 works he created during his lifetime. His contributions to Canadian art are preserved in numerous prestigious collections, including the National Gallery of Canada, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, and the Musée du Québec.
Marc-Aurèle Fortin’s life and work reflect the resilience of an artist who, despite personal and societal challenges, created a body of work that continues to inspire and captivate audiences. His landscapes, filled with bold colors and dynamic forms, offer a window into the vibrant, yet often overlooked, beauty of Quebec’s natural and urban environments.
Browse our collection of Canadian paintings for sale at the Canadian Classic Fine Art gallery, The best place to buy a painting online. We provide free shipping anywhere in Canada and the United States. Our Montreal art gallery sells paintings online exclusively and have a 14 days return policy.