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FORD, Harriet Mary

Born
Brockville, Ontario, 1859
Died
Great Marlow, Buckinghamshire, England, 1938
Biography synopsis
Harriet Mary Ford studied at the Central Ontario School of Art, Toronto,1881; in London at St John’s Wood Art School and the Royal Academy; in France at the Académie Colarossi; and in the studio of Luc Olivier Mercon and Joseph Blanc. She traveled widely in Europe, to Italy (c.1892), Spain (1907) and Venice (1913-14). She lived in England beginning in 1896. Ford lived in Toronto 1894-1896, 1911-1917 and 1920-1921. She lived in Newlyn, Cornwall 1896-1899, Great Marlow, Buckinghamshire, England, 1899-c.1911 and 1918-1920 and from 1922 until her death. Between 1846 and 1916, Ford exhibited with the Royal Canadian Academy, and elsewhere in Canada. She was a member of the Royal Canadian Academy (Associate; 1895-99); the Palette Club (c.1894-99, 1911); the Ontario Society of Artists (1895-99 and again 1911); the Society of Mural Decorators (founding member); and the Women’s International Art Club, London. She returned to Toronto in 1920 and opened a studio on Huron Street. See correspondence between Ford and James Mavor in the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, University of Toronto. Ford showed her work at the Paris Salon, The Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts and the Royal Society of British Artists, London, the Art Association of Montreal, the Royal Canadian Academy, the Toronto Industrial Exhibition and the Palette Club. Her work is owned by the National Gallery of Canada, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and the Art Gallery of Hamilton. Ford was known as a painter, muralist, and jeweler and also as a writer, critic and lecturer. With George Reid she edited the short-lived magazine "Tarot," (1896) devoted to the Arts and Crafts Movement.
Media used
Jewellery making
Mural painting and decoration
Painting
Education
Ontario College of Art & Design (formerly Ontario School of Art), 1881 - ?
Académie Colarossi, Paris
Private study (under Luc Olivier Merson; Joseph Blanc)
Royal Academy, London
Memberships
Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, Associate; 1895
Palette Club, 1894
Ontario Society of Artists, 1895-9; and again 1911
Society of Mural Decorators, Founding member, 1894
Women's International Art Club
File & Archive locations
Art Gallery of Ontario - Edward P. Taylor Research Library and Archives
Hamilton Public Library, ON - Local History and Archives Department
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts / Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal, QC
National Gallery of Canada, ON - Library and Archives
University of British Columbia - Fine Arts Library
Canadian Women Artists History Initiative Documentation Centre, QC
Library and Archives Canada / Bibliothèque et Archives Canada, ON
BIBLIOGRAPHY

Writings about
"Among Many Canadians..." Globe (Toronto) 11 Jun. 1902: 5
"Among the Paintings." Daily Witness (Montreal) 14 Mar. 1896: 10
"Art & Artists" Globe (Toronto) 15 Dec. 1920: 10
"Art and Artists." Globe (Toronto) 25 Nov. 1916: 10
"Art Notes." Saturday Night 8 (6 Apr. 1895)
"Art Notes." Saturday Night 8 (13 Apr. 1895)
"Art Notes." Saturday Night 8.32 (29 Jun. 1895): 9
"Art Notes." Saturday Night 8.18 (23 Mar. 1895): 9
"Art Notes." Saturday Night 9.17 (14 Mar. 1896): 9
"Art." Saturday Night 9.50 (31 Oct. 1896): 9
"Canadian Magazine." Globe (Toronto) 5 Jun. 1896: 12
"Canadian Section of Fine Arts." British Empire Exhibition London: British Empire Exhibition, 1924
"Current and Forthcoming Exhibitions." Burlington Magazine 16 (1974): 425
"Current News of the Fine Arts." New York Times 25 Apr. 1894: 4
"Exhibition of Applied Arts." Globe (Toronto) 21 Dec. 1903: 9
"For Women To-Day." Globe (Toronto) 11 Mar. 1914: 5
"In Town." Globe (Toronto) 4 Apr. 1896: 19
"It is a Pity that so Many Fail to Take Advantage of the Opportunity." Toronto Daily Star 27 Jan. 1912
"London, Ont., Artist Wins Scholarship." Globe (Toronto) 21 Nov. 1916: 5
"Miss Harriet Ford..." Globe (Toronto) 11 Sept. 1897: 23
"Miss Harriet Ford..." Saturday Night 9.18 (21 Mar. 1896): 9
"Miss Harriet Ford..." Toronto Star 30 Oct. 1920
"Mrs. Alexander Cameron..." Saturday Night 8.19 (30 Mar. 1895): 9
"Oil Paintings." Globe (Toronto) 1 May 1895: 5
"Paintings Shown At Heliconian Club." Globe (Toronto) 8 Nov. 1920: 11
"Social Events." Globe (Toronto) 29 Dec. 1920: 7
"Social Events: Tea was dispensed..." Globe (Toronto) 7 Mar. 1921: 8
"Studio Day." Globe (Toronto) 31 Jan. 1896: 8
"The Horse Show." Globe (Toronto) 23 Mar. 1896: 5
"The Palette Club Exhibition." Saturday Night 8.2 (1 Dec. 1897): 7
"The Portrait of the Late..." Saturday Night 8.48 (19 Oct. 1895): 9
"Three Art Lectures." Globe (Toronto) 18 Mar. 1895: 8
"To-day's Calendar." Globe (Toronto) 7 Mar. 1896: 20
"Venetian Painters." Globe (Toronto) 3 Apr. 1895: 8
"Woman At Work and At Play: Social Events." Globe (Toronto) 21 Dec. 1911
"XIII Perpertual Motion." Apollo 112 (Nov. 1980): 325
"Year's Harvest of Art." Globe (Toronto) 7 Mar. 1903: 32
Anderson, Janice. Creating Room: Canadian Women Mural Painters and Rereadings of the Public and the Private Montreal: Concordia University, 2002
Art Gallery of Hamilton. Harriet Ford, Art Gallery of Hamilton, January 18 - April 1, 2001. Hamilton: Art Gallery of Hamilton, 2001
Art Gallery of the Toronto Public Reference Library. Catalogue of the 2nd Annual Exhibition of Little Pictures by Canadian Artists Toronto: Art Gallery of the Toronto Public Reference Library, 1914
Bradfield, Helen Pepall. Art Gallery of Ontario: The Canadian Collection Toronto: McGraw-Hill, 1970
Braide, Janet. William Brymner (1855-1925). Montreal: Concordia University, 1979
Canadian National Exhibition. Canadian National Exhibition: Department of Fine Arts, August 25-September 10th, 1917. Toronto: 1917
Cherry, Deborah. Painting Women: Victorian Women Artists. London, New York: Routledge, 1993
Crombie, Theodore. "Round the Galleries: Gatherings from Moor and Fen." Apollo 99 (Jun. 1974): 462
Davies, Blodwen. "Canadian Women of Brush and Chisel." Chatelaine 3 (Jun. 1930): 9, 42
Dignam, Mary E. "Distinguished Professional Women." Women of Canada: Their Life and Work Toronto: National Council of Women of Canada, 1900
Doyle, Lynn C. "Art Notes." Saturday Night 9.11 (1 Feb. 1896): 9
Doyle, Lynn C. "Art." Saturday Night 9.20 (4 Apr. 1896): 15
Eastwood, Elizabeth Cobb Stewart. The Descendants of Andrew Ford of Weymouth Massachusetts. Part II: The Seventh Generation. Cleveland: Privately Published, 1982
Graves, Algernon. A Dictionary of Artists Who Have Exhibited Works in the Principal London Exhibitions from 1760-1893. New York: Lennox Hill, 1970
Harper, J. Russell. Early Painters and Engravers in Canada Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1970
Harper, J. Russell. Painting in Canada: A History Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1966, 2nd edition 1977
Hill, C.C. and P.B. Landry, eds. National Gallery Catalogue, Canadian Art. Ottawa: National Gallery of Canada, 1988
Hill, Charles. For an Integration of the Arts Artists, Architects, & Artisans: Canadian Art: 1890-1918 Ottawa: National Gallery of Canada, 2013
Hubbard, R. H. The National Gallery of Canada Catalogue of Paintings and Sculpture. Ottawa: Published for the Trustees by University of Toronto Press, 1957
Hughes, Margaret E. A Guide to Canadian Painters Toronto: King's Printer, 1940
Hughes, Margaret E. "A Guide to Canadian Painters." Ontario Library Review 24.3 (May-Aug. 1940)
Johnson, Jane. Works Exhibited at the Royal Society of British Artists 1824-1893 and the New English Art Club 1888-1917. Suffolk, England: Antique Collectors' Club, 1975, reprint 1987
Johnson, Jane and A. Greutzer. Dictionary of British Artists, 1880-1940 Woodbridge: Antique Collectors' Club, 1976
Johnston, E. F. B. "Painting and Sculpture in Canada." Canada and Its Provinces Toronto: Glasgow, Brook and Co, 1914
Laroche, Ginette. "Décor intérieur de la maison Porteous." Les chemins de la mémoire Quebec: Les Publications du Québec, 1999
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
MacTavish, Newton. The Fine Arts in Canada Toronto: Macmillan, 1925
McKendry, Blake. A to Z of Canadian Art: Artists and Art Terms Kingston: B. McKendry, 1997
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
Miner, Muriel Miller. G.A. Reid, Canadian Artist; Reprint: George Reid: A Biography Toronto: Ryerson Press and Summerhill Press, 1946; (reprint) 1987
Muir, Elizabeth Gillan.. "Visual, Literary, and Performing Arts." An Unrecognized Contribution : Women and Their Work in 19th-Century Toronto Toronto: Dundurn Press, 2022
Murray, Joan. Ontario Society of Artists: 100 Years Toronto: Art Gallery of Ontario, 1972
Petteys, Chris, et al. Dictionary of Women Artists: An International Dictionary of Women Artists Born Before 1900 Boston: G. K. Hall, 1985
Robert Simpson Company Galleries. Small Picture Exhibition by Members of the O.S.A. Toronto: 1924
Robson, Albert Henry. Canadian Landscape Painters Toronto: Ryerson Press, 1932
Sutton, Denys. "Richard Ford: A Witty Hispanophile." Apollo 125 (Jan. 1987): 24-33
Tippett, Maria. By a Lady Toronto: Viking, 1992
Westbridge, Anthony R. The Collector's Dictionary of Canadian Artists at Auction Vancouver: Westbridge Publications, 2001
Wistow, David. Canadians in Paris 1867-1914 Toronto: Art Gallery of Ontario, 1979
Wood, Christopher. The Dictionary of Victorian Painters Woodbridge: Antique Collectors' Club, 1978

Writings by
Ford, Harriet. "A Travel Note." Canadian Magazine 7.2 (Jun. 1896): 177-8
Ford, Harriet. "Exhibition of the Royal Canadian Academy." Week 26 Apr. 1895
Ford, Harriet. "Mr. L. R. O'Brien's Watercolours." Week 22 Nov. 1895
Ford, Harriet. "The New President of the Royal Academy." Massey's Magazine 1.6 (Jun. 1896): 363-72
Ford, Harriet. "The Royal Canadian Academy of Arts." Canadian Magazine 3 (May 1894): 45-50
Ford, Harriet. "The Work of Mrs. Adrian Stokes." Studio 19.85 (Apr. 1900)

Full text pdfs of exhibition reviews
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Ottawa, March 30, 1894) "Beauty in Colors. Leading Pictures at the Art Exhibition Described."  Evening Journal (Ottawa)  April 02, 1894.  p.5.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Ottawa, March 30, 1894) "Art Notes. The Royal Canadian Academy's Exhibition."  The Week (Toronto)  April 06, 1894.  p.448-9.   Full-text pdf
Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, April 25, 1894) "The Ontario Society of Artists."  Toronto Saturday Night  April 28, 1894.  p.7.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Montreal, April 15, 1895) "Royal Canadian Academy. 16th Annual Exhibition Opens This Evening With Private View in the Gallery of the Society of Artists, King Street West."  Globe (Toronto)  April 18, 1895.  p.2.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Montreal, April 15, 1895) Lynn C. Doyle.  "Royal Canadian Academy 16th Annual Exhibition. Open April 19th Till May 4th at The Art Gallery. King Street West Toronto. Admission 25 Cents."  Saturday Night (Toronto)  April 27, 1895.  p.9.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Montreal, March 12, 1896) "Canadian Artists' Work. The Exhibition at the Art Gallery. To Be Formally Opened This Evening - Some of the Pictures of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, Which Are on View."  Montreal Star  March 12, 1896.  p.8.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Montreal, March 12, 1896) "Canadian Art. The R.C.A. of A. Opens Its Seventeenth Exhibition. Many Prominent People Present. A Herald Critic Tells What He Thought of the Great Collection."  Montreal Herald  March 13, 1896.  p.8.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Montreal, March 12, 1896) "Among the Paintings. Some of the New Canvases Hanging in the Art Gallery."  Daily Witness (Montreal)  March 14, 1896.  p.10.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Montreal, March 12, 1896) "Art."  Saturday Night (Toronto)  March 21, 1896.  p.9.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Montreal, March 12, 1896) Lynn C. Doyle.  "Art."  Saturday Night (Toronto)  April 04, 1896.  p.15.   Full-text pdf
Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, May 13, 1897) James Mavor.  "Ontario Artists. Notice of Exhibits at the Annual Display. Several Good pictures."  Globe (Toronto)  May 22, 1897.  p.10.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (, 1898) Jean Grant.  "The Royal Canadian Academy Exhibition."  Saturday Night (Toronto)  March 12, 1898.  p.9.   Full-text pdf
Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, May 09, 1898) Lynn C. Doyle.  "Exhibition of the Ontario Society of Artists. Second Notice."  Globe (Toronto)  May 21, 1898.  p.8.   Full-text pdf
Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, March 03, 1900) Lynn C. Doyle.  "Ontario Society of Artists."  Globe (Toronto)  March 10, 1900.  p.28.   Full-text pdf
Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, March 07, 1903) M.L.F..  "Among the Pictures. At the O.S.A. Exhibition."  Toronto Star  March 07, 1903.  p.8.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition.: (Toronto, March 1904) "Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. Society is Holding Its Twenty-Fifth Annual Exhibition. Oils and Water Colours from Pictures Now Shown Will Be Selected Those For St. Louis Exposition."  Montreal Star  March 18, 1904.  p.5.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition.: (Toronto, March 1904) "Art Exhibition. Annual Display of Royal Canadian Academy Opens at the Art Gallery. Three Hundred Pictures. Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and Maritime Provinces are Represented - Collection of Special Interest."  Gazette (Montreal)  March 18, 1904.  p.6.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition.: (Toronto, March 1904) "Royal Academy Exhibition."  Montreal Witness  March 19, 1904.  p.2.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition.: (Toronto, March 1904) "The Royal Canadian Academy. A Critical Review of the Exhibition in Montreal."  The Toronto News  March 21, 1904.  p.9.   Full-text pdf
Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition.: (Toronto, February 23, 1906) "Artists' Society Exhibition."  Globe (Toronto)  February 24, 1906.  p.16.   Full-text pdf
Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition.: (Toronto, February 23, 1906) M.L.A.F..  "At The Picture Show."  Toronto Star  March 03, 1906.  p.5.   Full-text pdf
Art Association of Montreal Annual Spring Exhibition: (Montreal, March 09, 1911) "Many Montreal Scenes Shown At Art Association's Exhibit."  Montreal Herald  March 11, 1911.  p.7.   Full-text pdf
Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, March 31, 1911) "The Art Exhibit"  The Globe (Toronto)  April 06, 1911.  p.9.   Full-text pdf
Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, March 31, 1911) M.L.A.F..  "Women Artists Are Fast Increasing in Numbers. They Total Over a Third of the Exhibitors at the Present Show - Descriptions of Some of the More Notable Canvasses."  Toronto Star  April 07, 1911.  p.10.   Full-text pdf
Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, March 09, 1912) M.L.A.F..  "Paintings by Princess Pat. On Exhibition. Four Landscapes at Annual Exhibit of Ontario Society. Pictures of Real Life. Government is Buying Three of Them for the Provincial Art Museum."  Toronto Star  March 09, 1912.  p.22.   Full-text pdf
Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, March 1914) "Strong and Varied Pictures at the O.S.A. Exhibition."  The Globe (Toronto)  March 14, 1914.  p.10.   Full-text pdf
Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, March 03, 1915) Irene B. Wrenshall.  "Toronto."  American Art News  March 20, 1915.  13.24: p.6.   Full-text pdf
Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, March 03, 1915) Hector Charlesworth.  "O.S.A.'s Exhibition 1915."  Toronto Saturday Night  March 20, 1915.  p.4.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Montreal, November 18, 1915) "Royal Canadian Academy of Arts Open Galleries. 288 Fine Pictures on Exhibition at 37th Annual Exhibition."  Montreal Herald  November 19, 1915.  p.5.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Montreal, November 16, 1916) "Art Works on View Set High Standard."  Gazette (Montreal)  November 17, 1916.  p.7.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Montreal, November 16, 1916) "London, Ont., Artist Wins Scholarship. Royal Canadian Academy Has Many Interesting Pictures."  Globe and Mail (Toronto)  November 21, 1916.  p. 5.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Montreal, November 16, 1916) "19 Pictures for Nation. Trustees of National Gallery Buy Works at R.C.A. Show."  Gazette (Montreal)  November 24, 1916.  p.3.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Montreal, November 16, 1916) "Nineteen Pictures Bought for Nation."  Montreal Herald  November 24, 1916.  p.8.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Montreal, November 16, 1916) "Art and Artists"  Globe and Mail (Toronto)  November 25, 1916.  p. 10.   Full-text pdf
Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, March 10, 1923) Hector Charlesworth.  "The O.S.A. Exhibition. Jazz by the New School; but Some Works of Real Appeal."  Toronto Saturday Night  March 24, 1923.  p.3.   Full-text pdf
Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, March 08, 1924) Hector Charlesworth.  "O.S.A. Annual Exhibition. Technical Average High and Group System Disappearing."  Toronto Saturday Night  March 29, 1924.  p.3.   Full-text pdf
Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, March 07, 1925) Hector Charlesworth.  "Ontario Society of Artists. Brilliant Portraiture the Outstanding Feature of This Year's Show."  Toronto Saturday Night  March 14, 1925.  p.3.   Full-text pdf

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