Identity area
Type of entity
Authorized form of name
Comfort, Charles Fraser
Parallel form(s) of name
- Charles Comfort
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
1900-1994
History
Charles Fraser Comfort was born in Edinburgh, Scotland on July 22, 1900. He moved to Winnipeg in 1912. He studied art in Winnipeg and then New York with Robert Henri (1922-1923) He worked as a graphic designer in Winnipeg between 1914-1925 and then in Toronto between 1925-1936. This, along with his friendship with the Group of Seven, and his interest in the history of art were the major influences on his art. His murals for the Toronto Stock Exchange (1937)was the first modern interpretation of mural work in Canada. His numerous executive responsibilities in art societies (including president of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, 1957-60) and his record as a war artist (1943-46) resulted in his becoming the only artist to be appointed director of the National Gallery of Canada (1960-65). He was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1972.