Prudence Heward facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Prudence Heward
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Prudence Heward
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| Born |
Efa Prudence Heward
2 July 1896 |
| Died | 19 March 1947 (aged 50) |
| Education | Art Association of Montreal |
| Known for | painter |
| Movement | Expressionism; abstract art; Beaver Hall Hill Group |
Prudence Heward (born July 5, 1896 – died March 19, 1947) was a talented Canadian painter. She was known for painting people in a unique way, using strong colors and making her subjects look deep in thought. Prudence was a founding member of important art groups like the Canadian Group of Painters. She was also friends with many artists from the Beaver Hall Group, sharing similar ideas about art.
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Early Life and Art Training
Prudence Heward was born Efa Prudence Heward in Montreal, Quebec, on July 2, 1896. She was one of eight children in her family. Prudence went to private schools and showed an interest in art from a young age. Her mother and sister Dorothy were also artistic, which may have encouraged her.
When she was just twelve years old, Prudence started taking drawing lessons. She studied at the Art Association of Montreal school. Her teachers there included famous artists like William Brymner and Maurice Cullen.
Time During World War I
During World War I, Prudence Heward lived in England. Her brothers were serving in the Canadian Army at the time. Prudence herself volunteered with the Red Cross, helping others during the war.
After the war ended, she returned to Canada. She then continued to focus on her painting.
Becoming a Professional Artist
In 1924, Prudence Heward's artwork was shown to the public for the first time. This exhibition took place at the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in Toronto, Ontario. At that time, it was often hard for women artists to be taken seriously.
It wasn't until 1932 that Prudence had her first solo art show. This exhibition was held at the Scott & Sons Gallery in Montreal.
Studying in Paris
Prudence wanted to improve her painting skills even more. So, between 1925 and 1926, she lived and painted in Paris, France. Paris was a major center for artists and writers.
While in Paris, she studied at the Académie Colarossi. She also spent time at Le Dome Café in Montparnasse. This cafe was a popular spot for North American writers and artists. Famous writers like Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald also visited there.
In 1929, while still in Paris, Prudence met another Canadian painter, Isabel McLaughlin. They became good friends. When Prudence returned to Canada, she and Isabel, along with other artists, went on painting trips together to capture nature.
Winning an Award
The year 1929 was a big one for Prudence Heward's career. Her painting, Girl on a Hill, won a major award. It was the top prize in the Governor General Willingdon competition. This competition was organized by the National Gallery of Canada.
Joining Art Groups and Later Life
Prudence Heward was invited to show her work with the famous Group of Seven artists. Through this, she became friends with A. Y. Jackson. They often went on sketching trips together along the Saint Lawrence River. Prudence painted many landscapes, especially enjoying the Eastern Townships of Quebec.
In 1931, she joined the executive committee of an art school called "The Atelier." During World War II, she used her artistic skills to design war posters.
In 1933, Prudence Heward became a founding member of the Canadian Group of Painters. However, she faced health challenges, including asthma. These health issues gradually made it harder for her to paint. A car accident in 1939 further limited her abilities.
Despite these difficulties, she continued to create amazing portraits until 1945. By then, her health had gotten much worse, and she had to stop painting. Prudence Heward passed away two years later, in 1947, while seeking medical treatment in Los Angeles, California.
Her Artworks
Prudence Heward mostly painted people, though she also created landscapes and still lifes. She preferred to call her paintings of people "figures" instead of "portraits." Many of her paintings show women who look directly at the viewer. These women are shown realistically, not as idealized or perfect figures. Art historian Charmaine Nelson has studied Heward’s paintings of black women.
Her art was influenced by modern European art styles. She used these styles to show modern Canadian women in both city and country settings.
You can find Prudence Heward's paintings in several Canadian art galleries. These include the Winnipeg Art Gallery, the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts, the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, the Robert McLaughlin Gallery in Oshawa, and the National Gallery of Canada.
Legacy and Recognition
After her death, Prudence Heward's work continued to be recognized. In 1996, her cousin, politician Heward Grafftey, wrote a chapter about her in his book Portraits of a Life.
A documentary film called By Woman's Hand (1994) also explored her life. This film, made by Pepita Ferrari, also featured two of her artist friends, Anne Savage and Sarah Robertson.
On July 2, 2010, Canada Post released special stamps to honor Prudence Heward. This was part of their Art Canada collection. The stamps featured two of her famous paintings: At the Theatre (1928) and Rollande (1929).
In 2021, the McMichael Canadian Art Collection held an exhibition called Uninvited: Canadian Women Artists in the Modern Moment. This exhibition included eight of Prudence Heward's paintings.
See also
In Spanish: Prudence Heward para niños
