Lawren Harris was born on October 23rd, 1885, in Brantford, Ontario. His parents were Thomas Morgan Harris and Annie J. Stewart. They were a wealthy family, and at age 19 he went to study philosophy in Berlin. He became interested in painting at an early age. After attending the Toronto Lodge of the International Theosophical Society, Lawren married Beatrice Phillips, with whom he had three children. In 1911, he became friends with J. E. H. Macdonald, and they formed the Group of Seven.
The Group of Seven went on many trips together, such as their trip to Algoma. After this trip Harris visited Algoma annually, fascinated by the beautiful nature. |
It was these outings that began his style of painting that was decorative and that made him famous. His landscape paintings later became simpler and more abstract. In 1914 Harris fell in love with his friend's wife, and the two divorced their spouses and were married. This great artist died in Vancouver in 1970 and was buried on the grounds at the McMichael art gallery, where a number of his works are displayed.
|