Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
A2013.115.20 |
Title |
Rushing River |
Object Name |
Art |
Date |
[19-] |
Collection |
Orval Madden |
Scope & Content |
Oil painting; OC Madden Rushing river between rocks and colour trees that line the shoreline 51x40.5 cm Not framed |
Description Note |
This oil painting of a rushing river was painted by O.C. Madden sometime in the 1900s. Orval Clinton Madden was born on February 2nd 1891 to Jane (nee Johnston) Madden and Stephan Madden who owned and ran a grocery store. Growing up in Napanee he attended Napanee Collegiate and helped out on the family farm. In 1912 he moved to Toronto to study at the Ontario College of Art, returning to Napanee in the summers to continue work on the farm. Following his father's death in 1921, Orval became a full-time painter and moved in permanently with his brother Bruce in Toronto to finish his studies. Following his graduation Orval began work in commercial art, working at Grip Limited of Toronto in Kleinburg, Ontario, while still painting his passions "on the weekends". He remained in this position until 1949 where he began devoting himself purely to his historical study paintings. Throughout his life Orval was inspired by rural Ontario communities and began to paint to preserve the past. Orval's close friend, Dr. J. Allan Walters, remarked that "[his] paintings are historical and documentary rather than creative art forms". This documentation of Ontario was focused on Toronto Harbor in the 1930s and 1940s although quickly moved into preserving the memory of early life in Ontario particularly in the St. Lawrence and Bay of Quinte area. This led Orval to begin his project in 1956 to sketch and paint areas along the St. Lawrence River that were set to be flooded and destroyed by the "St. Lawrence Seaway Project". While this project was set to widen the navigation channel and allow for the construction of seven locks it also caused much of the surrounding area to be flooded and destroyed leading to the displacement of 6500 people. By 1971, Orval had paintings exhibited in many of Canada's art centers including the Royal Canadian Academy, the Art Association, the Montreal Academy and the Ontario Society of Artists as well as many others. Orval never married and continued to live with his brother Bruce and his sister Lola until his death in 1971. He is buried alongside his parents in Riverview Cemetery, Napanee. |
People |
Madden Madden family Madden, Jane (Mrs. Stephen) Madden, Lillian Madden, Lillian Cora Madden, Lola Madden, O.C. Madden, Olive Lola Madden, Orval Madden, Orval Clinton (1891-1971) Madden, Stephen (1843-1921) |
Creator |
Madden, O.C. |
Search Terms |
Artists Napanee Painting Paintings Toronto |
Physical Description |
16 in. x 20 in. |
Subjects |
Art Artists Forests Painting Paintings Rivers Water |