Lapine Collection

André Lapine (1866 – 1952)

Born in what is now Latvia, Lapine spent 20 years as an artist in the Netherlands. He met Collumbiena Geertrudia Britt whom he married at the age of 31 in 1897. In 1905 they emigrated to Canada, taking land in Manitoba.  Lapine was soon drawn to the art community in Toronto.  Here Lapine rapidly becoming one of Canada’s recognized artists.  In 1909 he was accepted to the Ontario Society of Artists and by 1919 he had become a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts.  He was also a member of the Graphic Arts Club, as well as the Toronto’s Arts and Letter Club, and a founding member of the Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour.  He was awarded the Jesse Dowe Award twice.

An exceptional artist, André Lapine had the ability to capture an image with simple, strong strokes, as is clearly illustrated in his sketches, indicating a skilled artist who had mastered the basic techniques of drawing.  Lapine's technical education, in the academic sense of art, during his training in Europe, are the fundamental basis for his success as an artist.  A profile, which accompanied an exhibition of his work held at Malloney's Art Gallery in Toronto, stated: "Lapine perfected his skill as a draftsman.  He recalled lessons with an early master when he drew and re-drew a single subject for three consecutive months.  What's the use, he reportedly said, of a painter offering his 'impression' to anyone unless he can really Paint?" This attention to detail and perfection established Lapine as the best illustrator of horses in North America.  He went so far as to create a formula, which gives step-by-step instructions of how to draw a horse in proportion.

In 1934, Lapine was struck by a car in Toronto.  His injuries were severe and it was reported he may not recover.  Lapine was taken to St Joseph’s hospital where he was under the constant care of the intern doctor Agnes Jamieson.  Miraculously Lapine fully recovered and began painting again to the point where he managed a major exhibition at the Malloney Gallery in Toronto at the age of eighty-four.

He was often seen walking the country roads around Minden with his easel and paint box, being dropped off by Dr. Jamieson on her rounds and then picked up later in the day.He befriended Frank Welch, then Minden’s Reeve and owner of the funeral home.Welch acquired 42 of Lapine's paintings during this time, which he bequeathed to the town of Minden.Dr. Jamieson knew this was a wonderful opportunity for the community and working with volunteers and keen determination, ensured a public gallery was created to properly house and showcase this collection.Presently the Agnes Jamieson Gallery, in Minden Ontario, has over 150 works by André Lapine.

Reference sources

1) http://www.latcan.org/lapine.html
2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9_Lapine
3) Minden Cultural Center website via archive.org on 22 March 2012