LESLIE JAMES SKELTON. [1848-1929]. Broadmoor Art Academy, Colorado Springs Art Society.

Born in Montreal in 1848. Studied in Montreal and under Joseph Iwill in Paris [c1885]. Exhibited in Paris [Salon, 1901], London [Royal Academy, 1904], Liverpool, in New York [National Academy, 1908], Montreal [Art Association of Montreal, 1891-1923], Royal Canadian Academy [1890-97], and the Society of Indianapolis Artists [1917]. In 1892 Skelton went to Colorado Springs for health reasons. He took the position of vice-principal of the Colorado Springs School of Art. The artist returned to Montreal but by 1924 was again living in Colorado. A popular Colorado artist, his work was reproduced in numerous postcards (about 5 million sold). In 1900 he organized the opening exhition at the Colorado College Gallery. A landscape painter and illustrator with work in the National Gallery of Canada, Perkins Art Gallery, Colorado College; and the Montreal Musuem of Fine Arts.

Bibliography: Ottawa, “Catalogue of the National Gallery of Canada” [vol. 3]; McMann, “Royal Canadian Academy of Arts Exhibitions & Members, 1880-1979”; McMann, “Montreal Museum of Fine Arts... Spring Exhibitions, 1880-1970”; Harper, “Early Painters and Engravers in Canada”; Falk (editor), “Who Was Who in American Art”.
Provenance: Scott & Sons, Montreal; Kaspar Gallery, Toronto, label on verso (original purchase invoice included); Private collection, Toronto.

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