Toronto Reference Library Blog

The first in a series of exhibits of art work and photography from the Canadian Historical Picture Collection features Canadian landscape artist George Harlow White (1817-1871).  His drawings show us how the towns and countryside of Ontario looked in the late 19th century.

Here are a few images of the pencil on paper drawings on exhibit in Special Collections until the end of March. To see this exhibit, come to the Baldwin Room on the fourth floor of the Toronto Reference Library.

 [Mr. Polk's Barn, Oro (Ontario)]  2 July 1873 

[High Road to Gravenhurst, Township of   Missison (Gravenhurst, Ontario)]    14 September 1873

[Interior of cottage]  1870

 [Barrie (Ontario), from Sunnidale Hill]   11 June 1874

Artist Bio:

George Harlow White was born in London England. Before coming to Canada, he worked in Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales as a portrait and landscape artist. His interest turned to landscape painting, concentrating primarily on British scenery. In 1871, he migrated to Canada arriving initially in Québec then continuing to Ontario, settling in Shanty Bay, near Barrie, Ontario. Many of his works were of Simcoe County and Muskoka, particularly of the Huntsville area. In 1876, he travelled to Ottawa, Quebec and the St. Lawrence-Lake Ontario region, then to the western provinces. He enjoyed nature and painting trees, forests, lakes as well as street and waterfront scenes. White was an elected member of the Ontario Society of Artists in 1878 and exhibited his works with the society until 1886. He also exhibited with the Art Association of Montreal and with the Royal Canadian Academy.  The library is fortunate to have 330 pencils sketches by George Harlow White most of which are part of the J Ross Robertson Collection.

 The artist's landscape drawings of the Rocky Mountains in British Columbia and Alberta can be viewed on the library's virtual exhibit, Capturing Canada on Paper and Canvas.

The first in a series of exhibits of art work and photography from the Canadian Historical Picture Collection features Canadian landscape artist George Harlow White (1817-1871).  His drawings show us how the towns and countryside of Ontario looked in the late 19th century.

Here are a few images of the pencil on paper drawings on exhibit in Special Collections until the end of March. To see this exhibit, come to the Baldwin Room on the fourth floor of the Toronto Reference Library.

 [Mr. Polk's Barn, Oro (Ontario)]  2 July 1873 

[High Road to Gravenhurst, Township of   Missison (Gravenhurst, Ontario)]    14 September 1873

[Interior of cottage]  1870

 [Barrie (Ontario), from Sunnidale Hill]   11 June 1874

Artist Bio:

George Harlow White was born in London England. Before coming to Canada, he worked in Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales as a portrait and landscape artist. His interest turned to landscape painting, concentrating primarily on British scenery. In 1871, he migrated to Canada arriving initially in Québec then continuing to Ontario, settling in Shanty Bay, near Barrie, Ontario. Many of his works were of Simcoe County and Muskoka, particularly of the Huntsville area. In 1876, he travelled to Ottawa, Quebec and the St. Lawrence-Lake Ontario region, then to the western provinces. He enjoyed nature and painting trees, forests, lakes as well as street and waterfront scenes. White was an elected member of the Ontario Society of Artists in 1878 and exhibited his works with the society until 1886. He also exhibited with the Art Association of Montreal and with the Royal Canadian Academy.  The library is fortunate to have 330 pencils sketches by George Harlow White most of which are part of the J Ross Robertson Collection.

 The artist's landscape drawings of the Rocky Mountains in British Columbia and Alberta can be viewed on the library's virtual exhibit, Capturing Canada on Paper and Canvas.