GEORGE FRANKLIN ARBUCKLE
Canadian 1909-2001

Biography

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George Franklin Arbuckle was born in Toronto in 1909. He attended the Ontario College of Art from 1927-1930 where he studied under J.W. Beatty, J.E.H. MacDonald, F.S. Challener, F.S. Haines, and Franz Johnston. As his career developed, he found himself in demand not only as a painter but also as a draughtsman, illustrator, muralist and tapestry designer. For many years he worked as an illustrator for Maclean’s magazine, where he was valued for his skillful representations of historical subjects. His paintings also appeared regularly on the magazine’s cover. 

Arbuckle often painted representational landscapes and city scenes filled with people, done in varying degrees of realism and impressionism. He was admired for his sensitive rendering of facial expressions, in which he expertly balanced realism and caricature. 

As a member of the Royal Canadian Academy, he exhibited with the Academy annually and held office. Other exhibitions of his work have been held at the Art Gallery of Toronto; Roberts Gallery, Toronto; Wallack Galleries, Ottawa; Walter Klinkhoff Inc., Montreal. His awards include two Jessie Dow prizes; Montreal Museum Fine Arts Spring Shows; and four major prizes for book illustrations: the Montreal Directors Club, the I.B.M. Medal, the Centennial Medal; and a Canada Council Grant in 1974. His work is well represented in public and private collections across the country.