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Born in
Montreal, Morrice spent most of his artistic life in
Paris, with frequent visits back to his homeland. An
avid traveler, he painted atmospheric views of Québec,
France, Venice, Morroco and the West James Wilson
Morrice was born in Montreal, Quebec. He was the third
of seven sons of a wealthy businessman, David Morrice.
Being brought up in wealthy surroundings, young James
was exposed to many fine works of art in the Morrice
household. In 1882, he went to the University of Toronto
and earned his B.A. in 1886. At this time, he began
painting watercolours.
After
graduation, Morrice entered Osgoode Hall, Toronto where
he studied law and was called to the Bar of Ontario in
1889. The older Morrice wanted his son to have the
security of a profession, but his son's interests were
elsewhere. Later in his college years, the thought of
being a lawyer started to bore him. After submitting a
couple of his works to the Ontario Society of Artists,
one of his paintings was finally chosen for the annual
exhibition of the Royal Canadian Academy. With further
support from the likes of Sir William Van Horne and
William Scott, Morrice managed to convince his father to
pay for his art education in Europe. He enrolled in the
Julian Academy where he studied for a short period of
time before leaving and then becoming attracted to the
landscapes of Henri Harpignies. Then in his seventies,
Harpignies was convinced by Morrice to criticize his
work for a fee, the only tuition of importance to him at
that time in Paris. By 1893, he had become greatly
influenced by the work of Whistler who thought Morrice's
work to be in the same category as Monet, Degas and
other impressionists.
In 1899, Morrice moved to the Left
Bank in Paris. At this point, he began to move into
prominence with his painting. In 1901, he exhibited at
the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and
Gravers in London, England and continued to show with
this group until 1914.
Each year, he
returned to Canada for a few months to see his family
and close friends in Montreal. In Quebec, he sketched
with Maurice Cullen and William Brymner. Morrice also
kept in touch with Newton MacTavish, an art critic and
trustee of the National Gallery of Canada. He became a
charter member of the Canadian Art Club, Toronto, in
1907 and also spent some time in New York City in the
same year. He became influenced by the work of Gauguin
and Matisse. He turned his attentions to the South of
Europe, North Africa and the West Indies. Morrice
returned to North Africa many times and was believed to
have a studio in Marrakesh for a season.
When his father
died in 1914, Morrice received a fairly large
inheritance from his father's estate. In contrast to his
apparent wealth, Morrice never displayed any lavishness
with the exception of his fine clothing. When he
travelled, he stayed in second class hotels and
developed the habit of playing poor. Morrice sought
refuge in warmer climates. In 1917, he was commissioned
by English critic, P.G. Konody, to do a canvas depicting
Canadian soldiers. The work is now in the Canadian War
Collection. In 1923, Morrice fell seriously ill while in
Tunis. He died in Tunis on January 23, 1924 and was
buried on the 25th in the European cemetery.
His paintings
were eagerly sought by collectors during his lifetime.
After his death, Matisse sent a tribute letter for
Morrice to the editor of L'Art et Les Artistes. At the
same time, Dunoyer de Segonzac organized a memorial
exhibition of his work at the Salon d'Automne, an honour
rarely given by the organization to a foreign artist.
Today, his paintings are still eagerly sought and sell
for high prices. |
