JOHN GOODWIN LYMAN. [1886-1967].
President of the Canadian Group of Painters. Contemporary Art Society. Eastern Group of Painters. Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, London.
Born in Biddleford, Main, his parents first settled in Victoria B.C. and then moved to Montreal in 1886. In 1905 he entered McGill University, Montreal and studied Literature. In 1907 he went to Paris and took drawing with Marcel Béronneau. In the autumn he moved to London to study architectural design and life drawing at the Royal College of Art, South Kensington. In 1908 he left London for Paris and enrolled at the Académie Julienne. In Paris he met and became life-long friends with James Wilson Morrice. After a visit to an exhibition Lyman became very interested in the work of Henri Matisse. The artist was to become the main inspiration in his work. He enrolled in the Académie Matisse run by the artist and Edward Bruce. He returned to Montreal and married Corrine St. Pierre. He returned to Europe and visited Paris, Normandy, Switzerland, and Munich. He spent the winter of 1911-12 in Montreal. Lyman exhibited at the AAM., where his work was attacked by critics [exhibited in Montreal from 1910]. He returned to Paris, and at during World War I. worked for Red Cross. At the end of the conflict he returned to Canada and in 1927 exhibited at the Johnson Art Galleries in Montreal. In 1931 he returned permanently to Montreal and exhibited at Scott and Sons Gallery. Lyman was an open critic of the nationalist ideas of the Group of Seven and believed that Canadian Art actually began with the work of James W. Morrice. He opened “The Atelier” School with Hazen Sise, George Holt and André Biéler. He exhibited with “The Atelier” at Henry Morgan Galleries, 1932 [artists included Biéler, Fortin, and Holgate]. In 1931 he established “The Lyman Summer Art Classes” at St. Jovite with Harold Beament. In 1936 he began writing reviews for “The Montrealer”. In 1937 he exhibited at the Valentine Gallery, New York City. He organised an exhibition of work by Prudence Heward, Alexander Bercovitch, Sarah Roberts, Mable Lockerby, Fritz Brandtner, Goodridge Roberts, Jori Smith, Jean Palardy, Marian Scott, and John Humphrey. In 1938 Lyman met Paul-Emile Borduas [Lyman was to remain a major influence]. In 1939 he founded the Contemporary Arts Society [artists included Lyman, Borduas, Roberts, Brandtner, Muhlstock, Surrey, Marian Scott, Louise Gadbois, and Jack Humphrey]. Lyman also founded the Eastern Group of Painters [exhibited with the EGP. at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, [artists included Goldberg, Surrey, Goodridge Roberts]. In 1944 the artist was given a retrospective at the Dominion Gallery, Montreal. In 1944 published a book on Morrice. From 1948-1957 he was Associate Professor of the Department of Fine Arts, McGill University, and became the Chairman in 1951. He exhibited with Surrey at the Watson Art Galleries. He was given a retrospective at the MMFA. in 1963, [the show went to National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa and to the Art Gallery of Hamilton]. In 1966 Lyman was given a retrospective at the Musée du Quebec and the Musée d’Art Contemporain, Montreal. An important Modernist artist who painted and drew landscapes, figures, and portraits [he also did sculptures]. His work is held by most public collections in Canada. The artist died in Montreal in 1967.
1886: Born, Biddleford Main (parents lived in Canada).
1905-07: Studied McGill University.
1907: Studied drawing in Paris with Marcel Béronneau; architectural design & life
drawing at Royal College of Art, South Kensington.
1908: Studied at Académie Julian under Jean-Paul Laurens, Paris (meets James Wilson Morrice).
1909: Enrolls in Académie Henri Matisse (artist a major influence).
1911: Marries Corrine St. Pierre, Montreal. Visits Europe with Corrine.
1911-12: Spends winter in Montreal.
1912-13: Returns to Paris, spends winter in Bermuda (first of many in Caribbean).
1913: Group show at Art Association of Montreal attacked by critics. Solo exhibition at AAM (returns to Paris after criticism).
1914-26: Lives in Canada, Bermuda, USA, Tunisia and France.
1927: Exhibits at Salon des Tuileries, Paris (also Salon des Indépendents, Salon d’Automne), and Johnson Art Galleries, Mont.
1931: Returns to Montreal, exhibits at William Scott & Sons Gallery [also exhibits in 1937, 38]. Opens “The Atelier” school with Hazen Sise, George Holt, André Biéler [exhibits at Henry Morgan Galleries, 1932, 33 (artists include Lyman, Biéler, Marc-Aurele Fortin, Elizabeth Frost, George Holt, Goodridge Roberts, Edwin Holgate)].
1931: Conducts “Lyman Summer Art Classes” with Harold Beament, St. Jovite.
1936: Starts to write art reviews for “The Montrealer”. Exhibits at Valentine Gallery, NY.
1937: Organizes group exhibition at Art Club of Montreal.
1938: Meets Paul-Emile Borduas.
1939: Exhibits at Faculty Club, McGill University. Founds Contemporary Arts Society (artists include Lyman, Borduas, Roberts, Brandtner, Muhlstock, Philip Surrey, Marian Scott, Jack Beder, Eric Goldberg, Fanny Wiselberg, Jacques de Tonnancour, Louise Gadbois, Jack Humphrey). Founds Eastern Group of Painters [exhibits MMFA, 1949].
1940-49: Shows in group exhibitions with society artists.
1944: Retrospective at Dominion Gallery, Mont. [exhibits 1947, 55]. Shows at Eaton Fine Art Galleries, Toronto. Publishes book on Morrice (Canadian art begins with Morrice, critical of nationalism of Group of Seven).
1948-57: Associate Professor, Department of Fine Arts, McGill University [chairman, 1951].
1951: Exhibits with Surrey at Watson Art Galleries, Mont.
1963: Retrospective at MMFA (toured NGC, Art Gallery of Hamilton)
1966: Retrospective at Musée du Quebec, Musée d’Art Contemporain, Montreal.
1967: John Lyman, Canadian Modernist, teacher, lecturer, art critic, organizer, and founder, dies.
Work is in significant collections and public galleries in Canada.