Frank (Franz)
Hans Johnston
(1888-1949)

Frank (Franz) Hans Johnston - an original member of the The Group of Seven and participant at the Group's first exhibition of 1920 is one of the most prolific and important Canadian artists of the first half of the twentieth-century. He was born in Toronto, Canada in 1888 and he studied in Germany from 1904 to 1907. Although his official association with the Group of Seven was brief, as by 1921 he had left Toronto to become Principal at the Winnipeg School of Art, his friendship with the artists dated back over a much longer period.

Johnston had joined MacDonald and Harris on their journeys to Algoma. His paintings from those years express a strong decorative interpretation of the landscape. In later years, the artist's style became more realistic and revealed a strong fascination with the qualities of light. His landscape paintings became very full of images reflected on water.

In 1927, Johnston changed his name to the more exotic title of `Franz' Johnston. He had begun in the 1920s to hold regular solo exhibitions and his paintings found a great following among the public. Unlike many Canadian artists, Johnston was able to achieve considerable financial success in his own lifetime. He was made a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. He died in Toronto in 1949 and buried with his fellow artists at McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Kleinburg, Ontario.

Frank (Franz) Hans Johnston paintings are part of museums and private collections all over the world.

Title: Untitled (Mountain Farmhouse)

Medium: Oil on board

Condition: Very good.

Dimensions: Unframed dimensions: 8.5" x 10.5" (21.6cm x 26.7cm) / Framed: 17.7" x 19.7" (45cm x 50cm)

Signature: Signed lower right.

Framed: Framed and matted.

Availability:    SOLD

Title: Banff Alta

Medium: Oil on wood panel

Condition: Very good.

Dimensions: Unframed dimensions: 9.25" x 13" (23cm x 33cm) / Framed: 14.3" x 18.2" (36.5cm x 46.0cm)

Signature: Signed lower right, signed and titled on verso, gallery label on verso.

Literature: The "scouting" drawing for this painting is part of Frank Johnston's "Western Sktechbook - 1924", First Edition, printed for White Briar Publications by Rous & Mann Press, September 1970 - see top sketch on page dated July 7 '24. Copy number 99 of this rare collectible book signed by Paul Rodrik is included with the painting.

Framed: Museum quality framed for conservation using Roma Moulding Vintage carbon black oxidized frame, spacer and Tru Vue museum glass.

Availability:    SOLD