Mount Girouard from the Bow River

Maurice Cullen

1866 - 1934

One of Canada’s finest landscape painters and stepfather to Robert Pilot, Maurice Cullen was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland and raised in Montréal. He initially studied to become a sculptor in Montréal and then in Paris, where his discovery of Monet and other impressionists drew him to painting.

When Cullen returned to Quebec in 1895, he adapted impressionistic techniques to painting the Quebec landscape, especially along the St. Lawrence River near Quebec City and to night scenes of Montréal.

Cullen, who painted outdoors even in the coldest weather, was the first painter to imagine the Canadian landscape, particularly snow scenes, through compositions of pure, unblended colors. In addition to Pilot, he influenced Group of Seven members Arthur Lismer and A.Y. Jackson who praised his fresh approach to landscape.

Mount Girouard from the Bow River demonstrates Cullen’s fascination with the play of light on snow. Mount Girouard is in Banff National Park near Calgary.