Emily Coonan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Emily Coonan
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| Born |
Emily Geraldine Coonan
March 25, 1885 |
| Died | June 23, 1971 (aged 86) Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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| Education | Conseil des arts et manufactures, Montreal (1898); Art Association of Montreal with William Brymner (1905-1909) |
| Movement | Beaver Hall Group, 1921 |
| Awards | first artist to receive travel grant from the National Gallery of Canada; Women`s Art Society scholarship (1916) |
Emily Coonan (1885–1971) was a Canadian painter. She was born in Montreal, Quebec. Emily was known for her figure paintings, which are pictures of people. She was part of a group called the Beaver Hall Group. Her art showed styles like Impressionism and modernism. She was taught by William Brymner and was also inspired by James Wilson Morrice.
Her Early Life and Art Training
Emily Coonan was born in the Pointe-Saint-Charles area of Montreal. Her father, William Coonan, worked for the Grand Trunk Railway. Emily went to St. Ann's Academy for Girls.
She started art classes around 1898. Her teachers included Edmond Dyonnet and Charles Gill. Later, from 1901 to 1905, she studied at the Art Association of Montreal. Her main teacher there was William Brymner. Brymner encouraged Emily to explore new art styles. He supported her interest in impressionism and modern art.
Her Artistic Journey
Emily Coonan began showing her artwork in 1907. She exhibited her paintings at the Art Association of Montreal until 1933. Her painting Eva and Daisy (1907) won her first place in a student show. This painting showed two sisters.
In 1913, the National Gallery of Canada gave her a special award. It was a travel grant to study art in Europe. This was the first time they gave such a prize. However, her trip was delayed until 1920 because of the First World War. While in Europe, she started painting landscapes. She also began using a new, modern style in her art.
When she came back to Canada in 1921, Emily joined the Beaver Hall Group. This group was made up of artists in Montreal. Unlike many in the group, Emily came from a working-class family. She was also a Roman Catholic. The Beaver Hall Group held a few shows, and Emily took part in some of them. The group later separated in 1922.
Emily's painting Girl in Dotted Dress (1923) became famous. It was chosen to be shown in a big exhibition in England. She found inspiration from French impressionist painters. After her teacher, Brymner, passed away, Emily painted and showed fewer works. She stopped participating in public art shows after 1933.
Later Years
Even though Emily Coonan stopped showing her art in public, she continued to paint. She faced some tough comments about her modern style. Also, her mentor, Brymner, and then her father passed away. After this, she painted mostly for her family and friends.
Emily never married. She liked to live and work quietly. Most of her paintings showed people close to her. She lived in her childhood home until 1966. Emily Coonan died in 1971 at the age of 86. She was living with her niece in Montreal at the time.
Where to See Her Art
Emily Coonan's paintings are part of important art collections. You can find her works at the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec. Her art is also held by the National Gallery of Canada.
