RiverBrink Art Museum facts for kids
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| Location | 116 Queenston St, Queenston, Niagara-on-the-Lake Ontario, Canada |
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| Type | Art museum |
The RiverBrink Art Museum is a special place located in the historic village of Queenston, Niagara-on-the-Lake. It sits right on the beautiful Niagara Parkway. This museum opened its doors in 1983. It holds a unique collection of more than 1,400 pieces of art. These artworks come from both Canadian and international artists.
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What You'll Find at RiverBrink
The museum has a wide variety of art. You can see paintings, prints, and sculptures. There are also decorative art pieces, like fancy furniture. The collection was put together by a man named Samuel E. Weir. He was a lawyer from Ontario who loved collecting art. He bought most of the art you see at the museum. The museum still adds new art through gifts and purchases.
Art from Famous Artists
Many famous Canadian artists have their work at RiverBrink. These include Tom Thomson, Homer Watson, and Emily Carr. You can also see art by members of the Group of Seven. The museum also has art by well-known artists from Britain, France, and America. Some of these include Mary Cassatt and Edgar Degas.
More Than Just Paintings
Besides paintings, the museum has a large collection of decorative arts. This includes old English and Québec silver. There are also antique clocks and furniture. You can find Indian medals, coins, rugs, and ceramics too. RiverBrink also has a big library. It holds over 4,000 books and old letters. There are also maps and records about artists.
Seeing the Collection
The museum often puts on new shows. These shows feature art from its own collection. Sometimes, they borrow art from other museums or private collectors. If you want to search the RiverBrink collection, you can visit the Canadian Heritage Information Network's Artefacts Canada: Humanities website.
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James B. Dennis, Battle of Queenston Heights, c. 1812–55
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Homer Watson, The Lothian Hills, 1892.
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Tom Thomson, Sketch for "The Jack Pine", Spring 1916.
The Story of RiverBrink
The museum's story begins with Samuel E. Weir. He was born in London, Ontario, in 1898. Sam became a lawyer in 1920. He started collecting art in the early 1920s. His first art purchase was a watercolor painting.
Sam Weir's Favorite Painting
Soon after, he bought a painting by Homer Watson. It was called The Lothian Hills (1892). Sam bought it directly from the artist. He paid for it in parts, which he often did. Even though he bought many more artworks, this painting by Watson remained his favorite. Sam Weir passed away in 1981. He left his entire art collection and his estate to the Weir Foundation. This foundation was started in 1962.
The Museum Building
Sam Weir bought the land in Queenston in 1943. He started building his country home there in the late 1950s. The house and a separate coach house were designed by Arthur E. Nutter. He was an English architect and a friend of the family.
Special Design Features
Sam Weir helped a lot with the design of the building. He asked for special things, like a fall-out shelter in the basement. He also wanted a small apartment above the coach house. The main building looks like a Georgian-style house. It has a special roof called a mansard roof.
Inside the Museum
The rooms inside the museum still have their original wood walls. A carpenter named Alexander Kiss installed them. He used many different kinds of wood. These included maple, mahogany, and oak. The ceilings were made of clear pine and birch. The house was finished in 1970. After Sam Weir died, it was turned into an art museum. In 1996, a large porch was changed into more space for art exhibits.
