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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

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