Perrigard Hal Ross

Hal Ross Perrigard (1891-1960)

Born in Montreal, P.Q., from his earliest childhood he was interested in art and painted surprisingly good landscapes at the age of twelve. He attended life classes at the Royal Canadian Academy school where he received instruction from William Brymner and Maurice Cullen. He was however largely self-taught. He was known for his landscapes early and had a painting accepted by the Royal Canadian Academy about 1913. His fine portrait entitled ‘’Lalage’’ was exhibited in the Montreal Spring Exhibition in 1923 and was purchased by the National Gallery of Canada the same year. In 1932 he was noted by A.H. Robson in ‘’Canadian Landscape Painters’’ as a brilliant artist, painting with fine colour and originality of design. His subjects also included seascapes and figure studies. Much of his inspiration for seascapes no doubt came from his summers spent in Rockport, Massachusetts where he had a studio from 1923 until his death. Generally speaking, Perrigard painted in a simplified realistic form, designed his work well an had a colourful palette. He worked in oils, water colours pastels and charcoal. He was an active member of many art societies including The Arts Club of Montreal (1917); Rockport Art Association (1923); A.R.C.A. (1924); North Shore Artists Association of Gloucester; Artists Guild of Canada and others. His works are in the permanent collections of the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa; the Musée du Québec and in private collections in Canada, United States, England, Holland, Belgium, Austria and elsewhere.

Source: A Dictionary of Canadian Artists, Colin S. Macdonald, Vol 5.