Home > Artist Database > Bio-bibliographic Database > MARTIN, Emma May
Artist Database
MARTIN, Emma May
- Born
- Toronto, 1865
- Died
- Montreal, 1957
- Biography synopsis
- Emma Martin studied with her father, Thomas Mower Martin, a well known painter who worked with oil and watercolour, painting still life and landscapes. She later studied at the Toronto Art School and the Central Ontario School of Art and Design under Marmaduke Matthews and George A. Reid. Martin began exhibiting as early as 1883, and started exhibiting regularly in major Canadian art shows from 1886 until 1943. A member of the Ontario Society of Artists, she also took part in RCA exhibitions from 1887 to 1913 as well as at the Columbian Expo in Chicago in 1893. Martin visited England and Scotland with her father in 1906-1907. However, she chose not to exhibit her English scenes until several years later; some were shown late as 1927-1928. Martin never married and taught at the Presbyterian Ladies’ College in Toronto until approximately 1910. The artist also gave private lessons in her own studio and conducted outdoor sketching classes.
- Media used
- China painting
- Oil painting
- Painting
- Watercolour
- Education
- Toronto Art School (under Marmaduke Matthews, G. Reid)
- Central School of Art and Design, London
- Memberships
- Women's Art Association of Canada
- Ontario Society of Artists
- Heliconian Club
- Rosedale League of School Art
- File & Archive locations
- Edmonton Art Gallery, AB - Library
- University of British Columbia - Fine Arts Library
- University of Calgary Library, AB
- London Public Library, ON
- National Gallery of Canada, ON - Library and Archives
- Art Gallery of Ontario - Edward P. Taylor Research Library and Archives
- Montreal Museum of Fine Arts / Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal, QC
- Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal, QC - Media Centre
- Canadian Women Artists History Initiative Documentation Centre, QC
- Winnipeg Art Gallery, MA - Clara Lander Library
- Glenbow Archives, AB - Finding Aids / Scanned Documents
- BIBLIOGRAPHY
Writings about- Who's Who in Ontario Art, Part 10. Toronto: Ontario Library Review, 1950
- "?" Saturday Night 9.40 (22 Aug. 1896): 9
- "Art and Artists." Saturday Night 6.7 (7 Jan. 1893): 14
- "Art and Artists." Saturday Night 1.25 (19 May 1888): 7
- "Art Exhibition: Water Colours, Statuary and Miniatures." Montreal Daily Witness 6 Apr. 1897
- "E. May Martin, 92 Was Noted Artist." Star (Toronto) ? Feb. 1957
- "Father-Daughter Exhibit Robert McLaughlin Gallery." Oshawa Times 20 Feb. 1991
- "Much Good Work at R.C.A. Exhibition: Thirty-Fifth Annual Show Comprises Interesting Pictures by Local Artists." Gazette (Montreal) 21 Nov. 1913: 5
- "Women's Art on Display." Oshawa Times 6 Sept. 1984
- Brimmell, Helen. "No Lack of Good Art for Viewing in City." Mercury (Guelph) 2 Feb. 1981
- Crabtree, Linda. "Three-Part Display Marks Anniversary." St. Catharines Standard 8 Sept. 1980
- Doyle, Lynn C. "Art Notes." Saturday Night 9.14 (22 Feb. 1896): 9
- Hare, Irene B. "Close-ups of Toronto’s Women Artists, No. 13- Miss E. May Martin." Toronto Sunday World 31 Aug. 1924
- Harper, J. Russell. Early Painters and Engravers in Canada Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1970
- MacDonald, Colin S. The Dictionary of Canadian Artists. (Volumes 1-8 by Colin S. MacDonald, and volume 9 by Anne Newlands and Judith Parker) Ottawa: National Gallery of Canada, 2009.
- McMann, Evelyn de Rostaing. Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Formerly Art Association of Montreal: Spring Exhibitions, 1880-1970. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1988
- McMann, Evelyn de Rostaing. Royal Canadian Academy of Arts/Académie royale des arts du Canada: Exhibitions and Members 1880-1979 Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1981
- Petteys, Chris, et al. Dictionary of Women Artists: An International Dictionary of Women Artists Born Before 1900. Boston: G. K. Hall, 1985
- St. John Art School. 1912 Provincial Exhibition, St. John, N.B., Catalogue: Loan Exhibition of Oil and Watercolor Paintings. St. John (New Brunswick): St. John's Art Club, 1912
- W. Scott and Sons' Galleries. Thumb-Box Exhibition To Be Held by Canadian Artists. Toronto: 1908
- Watson, Jennifer C. Water Colours by E. May Martin. Oshawa: The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, 1980
- Watson, Jennifer C. "Re-discovering E. May Martin." Canadian Collector 15.4 (Jul-Aug. 1980): 22-25
Full text pdfs of exhibition reviews- Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition.: (Montreal, ) "The Royal Canadian Art Exhibition." Montreal Herald . p.1. Full-text pdf
- Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, ) "Ontario Society of Artists. The Pictures Shown at the Exhibition Now in Progress." Globe (Toronto) . p. 6. Full-text pdf
- Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, ) "The Ontario Society's Exhibit. II." The Week . p.496. Full-text pdf
- Art Association of Montreal Annual Spring Exhibition: (Montreal, ) "Pictures. Opening of the Spring Exhibition." Daily Witness (Montreal) . p.2. Full-text pdf
- Art Association of Montreal Annual Spring Exhibition: (Montreal, ) "Among the Water Colors. A Rather Uneven Collection at the Art Gallery." Gazette (Montreal) . p.5. Full-text pdf
- The Joint Annual Exhibition of the RCA and the OSA.: (Toronto, ) "Art and Artists." Toronto Saturday Night . p.7. Full-text pdf
- The Joint Annual Exhibition of the RCA and the OSA: (Toronto, ) "Art and Artists." Toronto Saturday Night . p. 7. Full-text pdf
- Art Association of Montreal Annual Spring Exhibition: (Montreal, ) "Opened to the Public. The Water Color Drawings in the Spring Exhibition." Gazette (Montreal) . p.2. Full-text pdf
- Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, ) "The Parent Art Society of Ontario." The Week . p.408. Full-text pdf
- Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, ) Van. "Art and Artists." Toronto Saturday Night . p.7. Full-text pdf
- Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, ) Van. "Among The Pictures." Toronto Saturday Night . p.7. Full-text pdf
- Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, ) Templar. "Art Notes." The Week . p.443. Full-text pdf
- Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, ) "Ontario Society of Artists. Notes on the Exhibition That is Now in Progress." Globe (Toronto) . p. 9. Full-text pdf
- Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, ) "Art Notes." The Week . p.416. Full-text pdf
- Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, ) Chad. "Ontario Society of Artists. First Notice." Toronto Saturday Night . p.7. Full-text pdf
- Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Ottawa, ) "Art Notes." The Week (Toronto) . p.297-8. Full-text pdf
- Art Association of Montreal Annual Spring Exhibition: (Montreal, ) "The Art Gallery. Further Review of the Exhibition's Pictures." Montreal Herald . p.5. Full-text pdf
- Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, ) "Ontario Society of Artists." Globe (Toronto) . p. 4. Full-text pdf
- Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, ) "Art Notes. Among the Water Colours at the O.S.A." The Week . p.458. Full-text pdf
- Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, ) Van. "Art and Artists." Toronto Saturday Night . p.14. Full-text pdf
- Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Montreal, ) "Royal Canadian Academy. Opening of the Exhibition to the Public Yesterday." Montreal Herald . p.8. Full-text pdf
- Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Montreal, ) "The Canadian Academy." Daily Witness (Montreal) . p.3. Full-text pdf
- Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, ) F.E.G.. "Art and Artists." Toronto Saturday Night . p.15. Full-text pdf
- Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, ) "Art Notes." The Week . p.540. Full-text pdf
- Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, ) "Art Notes." The Week . p.540. Full-text pdf
- Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, ) Lynn C. Doyle. "Art" Toronto Saturday Night . p.9. Full-text pdf
- Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, ) Lynn C. Doyle. "Art" Toronto Saturday Night . p.9. Full-text pdf
- Art Association of Montreal Annual Spring Exhibition: (Montreal, ) Werthemer, G. de. "L'exposition annuelle de peintures a l'Art Association. Revue complete du salon." Les Nouvelles (Montreal) . p.2,8. Full-text pdf
- Art Association of Montreal Annual Spring Exhibition: (Montreal, ) "Art Exhibition. Water Colors, Statuary and Miniatures." Daily Witness (Montreal) . p.12. Full-text pdf
- Art Association of Montreal Annual Spring Exhibition: (Montreal, ) G. de Werthemer. "Le salon de L'"Art Association." Aquarelles." Les Nouvelles (Montreal) . p.7. Full-text pdf
- Women's Art Association of Canada (Tor) - Tenth Annual Spring Exhibition: (Robert's Art Galleries, ) "Art and Artists. Tenth Annual Exhibition of the W.A.A. Water Colors the Feature. Some Noted Canvases by Distinguished Artists. Contributions from Montreal, Hamilton, Brockville and Kingston - Toronto Well Represented - The Trend of Art." Globe and Mail (Toronto) . p.5. Full-text pdf
- Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, ) Jean Grant. "Studio and Gallery" Toronto Saturday Night . p.9. Full-text pdf
- Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, ) Lynn C. Doyle. "Exhibition of the Ontario Society of Artists. Second Notice." Globe (Toronto) . p.8. Full-text pdf
- Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, ) Lynn C. Doyle. "At the Art Gallery." Globe (Toronto) . p.26. Full-text pdf
- Art Association of Montreal Annual Spring Exhibition: (Montreal, ) "At the Art Gallery. An Enjoyable Private View." Daily Witness (Montreal) . p.4. Full-text pdf
- Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition.: (Toronto, ) "Artists' Society Exhibition." Globe (Toronto) . p.16. Full-text pdf
- Art Association of Montreal Annual Spring Exhibition.: (Montreal, ) "Exhibition of Art. Some Brilliant Canvases Dazzle Eye in 24th Spring Exhibit in Art Gallery." Gazette (Montreal) . p.4. Full-text pdf
- Art Association of Montreal Annual Spring Exhibition: (Montreal, ) "Exhibition of Art. High Water Mark Reached in This Year's Spring Showing in Art Galleries. Stricter Standard Set." Gazette (Montreal) . p.9. Full-text pdf
- Art Association of Montreal Annual Spring Exhibition: (Montreal, ) "Pictures Shown at Spring Exhibition of the Art Gallery Reach a High Level." Montreal Star . p.6. Full-text pdf
- Art Association of Montreal Annual Spring Exhibition: (Montreal, ) "Art Opening, a Social Event. A Princess Exhibits." Gazette (Montreal) . p.4. Full-text pdf
- Art Association of Montreal Annual Spring Exhibition: (Montreal, ) "Princess Patricia's Work Shown at Spring Exhibition of the Art Association." Daily Witness (Montreal) . p.11. Full-text pdf
- Art Association of Montreal Annual Spring Exhibition: (Montreal, ) "Spring Exhibition at Art Gallery. Opened for Private View Last Night with Many Meritorious Works. Some Post Impressions." Gazette (Montreal) . p.13. Full-text pdf
- Art Association of Montreal Annual Spring Exhibition: (Montreal, ) "Variety in Spring Picture Exhibit. Private View Opened 31st Spring Show at Art Gallery Last Night. Works Number Over 400. Sanity, Sincerity and Progress Characterize Majority of Pictures-Various Branches Well Represented." Gazette (Montreal) . p.11. Full-text pdf
- Art Association of Montreal Annual Spring Exhibition: (Montreal, ) "Spring Art Show Has 478 Exhibits. Even Excellence Dominant Note at Art Association Which Opened Last Night. Nothing Very Daring." Gazette (Montreal) . p.5. Full-text pdf
- Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, ) Lucy Van Gogh. "The O.S.A. Show." Toronto Saturday Night . p.13. Full-text pdf