Paul Caron (Paul Archibald Caron)

1874-1941

Paul Caron was born in Montreal, Quebec. He studied at the Art Association of Montreal under William Brymner and at the Counsil of Arts and Manufactures under Edmond Dyonnet. He also took lessons under Maurice Cullen and studied in New York and Philadelphia. From 1891 to 1902, he took up work as a commercial artist working for J.C. Spence & Sons, a stained glass company in Montreal. In 1897, while still working in the stained glass industry, he became an illustrator for the newspapers La Presse and the Montreal Star, and held that post until 1908. During his time as a designer and illustrator, he also worked for Desbarats Advertising Agency where he eventually became Director. After retiring from his commercial career, Caron became a full-time artist. He mainly painted old buildings and ancient areas of Montreal and Quebec City, and also landscapes in the Laurentians and Charlevoix region. Most of his works were done in watercolour, many of which were reproduced on Christmas cards, calendars and various prints.

Caron started exhibiting his works with the Royal Canadian Academy in 1904 and with the Art Association of Montreal in 1905. He exhibited with them almost annually until 1940 and won the Jessie Dow Prize for watercolours in 1931 and 1936. He also exhibited his works with the Ontario Society of Artists and he participated at the Canadian National Exhibition. In 1930, four  of Caron’s oils were used to decorate Blodwen Davies’s book Saguenay. He died in Montreal at the age of 67.

 
Collections:

- National Gallery of Canada (Ottawa, ON)
- Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Québec (Quebec City, QC)
- Musée d’Art de Joliette (Joliette, QC)
- McCord Museum (Montreal, QC)
- Musée Laurier (Victoriaville, QC)
- Musée Louis-Hémon (Péribonka, QC)
- Edmonton Art Gallery (Edmonton, AB)
- Glenbow Museum (Calgary, AB)
- The Robert McLaughlin Gallery (Oshawa, ON)
- Musée de Lachine (Lachine, QC)
- Musée des Maîtres et Artisans du Québec (St-Laurent, QC)
- La Pulperie de Chicoutimi (Chicoutimi, QC)
- Library and Archives Canada (Ottawa, ON)
- Power Corporation of Canada (Montreal, QC)

Affiliations:

- Newspaper Artists Association (1903)
- Art Club of Montreal (1912)
- Canadian Society of Graphic (1924-1936)
- Canadian Society of Painters-Etchers and Engravers (1929)
- Pen & Pencil Club of Montreal (1937)
- Associate of the Royal Canadian Academy (1939)