Gordon Edward Pfeiffer [Canadian, 1899-1983]. Wash Day, Laurentians, Quebec Oil Painting

GORDON EDWARD PFEIFFER [Canadian, 1899-1983]

[Wash Day, Laurentians, Québec].

12 x 16 inches.

oil on board.

signed on recto. dated 1964 on verso.

Framed. Frame measures: 17 1/4 x 21 inches (43.5 x 53.3 cm)


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Gordon Edward Pfeiffer [1899-1983] was born in Quebec City, the son of Adolphus Edward and Lillian (Wright) Pfeiffer, and brother of Harold and Walter (both artists). His mother was an accomplished painter in Ireland and in Cleveland, Ohio. Gordon began painting at the age of twelve under A. Bonham, a Quebec art teacher. He was educated at Quebec High School, Stanstead College, Rochester and Harvard Universities. In painting he was, however self-taught, although he was coached by friends including Horatio Walker (Ile d'Orléans), William Glackens (New York), André Biéler (Kingston), Robert Pilot (Montreal), René Richard (Baie St. Paul, P.Q.), Lieulf Claussen (Denmark), Dewey Albinson (Minneapolis) and others. He began painting seriously in 1925 while also working for his father. Gordon started work in the family business in 1923, then his father sent him to study for management (business administration, chemistry and history at Rochester and Harvard Universities). He became general manager of the firm in 1928 but following his father's death he sold the business. He remained associated with business through the years but spent more time painting. He lived in Paris where he visited museums and artists' ateliers and also visited other countries in Europe. Returning to Canada he painted rural Quebec in all its seasons which combined his interest in the outdoors and he painted in other regions of Canada and the United States. Viewing his 1966 show at the Arts Club of Montreal a Gazette writer noted, "Pfeiffer is a painter with an insatiable appetite for the Canadian landscape. In his present collection the interest centres on the most eastern Appalachians, the Long Range Mountains of Newfoundland. A romantic at heart, Pfeiffer relishes the dramatic settings of massive ridges against crystal-clear skies from which all moisture seems swept up by juicy clouds, sailing on brisk Atlantic breezes. Two large canvases, . . . of Long Range Mountain scenes, show some of Pfeiffer's finest brushwork. Above all, the painter appears to love his skies and his clouds." Some of his favourite painting spots included Old Quebec, the Lower St. Lawrence, Gaspé Peninsula, the Maritimes, and Newfoundland. He painted in England, Ireland and other countries. He married Dorothy Young in 1925 and they had three sons and one daughter. To date Pfeiffer has held over thirty-three solo shows, as follows (dates available are shown): Chateau Frontenac, Que. City (1931, 1932, 1936, 1938, 1948); Palais Montcalm, Que. City (1941 & 3 others); Galerie J.A. Morency, Que. City (1958 & l other); Galerie d'Art Lafayette-Saint-Jean, Que. City (1976); Galerie Kerhulu, Que. City; Stanstead College, Que. City; Galerie Le Seur, Que. City; W. Scott & Sons, Mtl. (1932); T. Eaton Co., Mtl. (1934, 1936, 1937); Canadian Hall of Fine Art, Mtl. (1944); The Arts Club of Montreal (1948, 1960, 1966, 1967); Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (1963 & 1 other); Galerie Colbert, Mtl. (1976); Silverman Gallery, Mtl.; Galerie Irla Kert, Mtl.; Recreation Centre of Aluminum Co. of Can., Arvida (1947); Art lenders, Westmount (1970); Gallery Ingenu, Tor. (1977); Alma College, St. Thomas, Ont.; The Art Centre, Cowansville, Que. (2 shows); Zwicker's Gallery, Halifax, N.S.; University of Ottawa, Ont. (1967); Robertson Galleries, Ott.; Fischer-Richer Gallery, Grand'mere, Que. (1968); The Lindsley Gallery, Boca Raton, Florida; Rockefeller Center, New York City. He has exhibited in many group shows including those of the R.C.A., O.S.A., N.G.C., Mtl. Spring shows and many others. He is represented in the following public and corporate collections: Cied' Assurance Laurentien, Quebec City; J.B. Renaud Co., Que. City; Cercle Universitaire, Laval Univ., Que. City; Stanstead College, Que. City; Laurentide Acceptance Corp., Town of Mount Royal; Industrial Acceptance Corp., Town of Mount Royal; Mount Stephen Club, Mtl.; Thistle Curling Club, Mtl.; Mtl. Amateur Athletic Assoc.; The Arts Club of Montreal; McCord Museum, Mtl.; Redpath Library, McGill Univ., Mtl.; Divinity Hall, McGill Univ., Mtl.; Quebec Provincial Museum, Que. City; London Library & Art Assoc., Lond., Ont.; Alma College, St. Thomas, Ont.; Pickering College, Newmarket, Ont.; Dept. External Affairs, Ottawa; Southern Canada Power Company and in many private collections. Lived in Montreal and Rosemere, Quebec. [MacDonald. “A Dictionary of Canadian Artists”].