Provenance
The Canadian Fine Arts Gallery Ltd., Toronto;
Private collection, Calgary
Bell-Smith first traveled to the West after asking the Canadian Pacific Railway for passage to paint in the summer of 1887. It would be the first of over twenty trips for the artist, dubbed “the Premier Painter of the Rockies” by MacLean’s Magazine in 1912. Bell-Smith’s painting process in the mountains was noted by John E. Staley as almost entirely intuitive: Rarely Bell-Smith paints direct from Nature: his “Rockies” are too tremendous, but, at the same time, absolutely inspiring … A glimpse is sufficient for the execution of his scheme: he paints best with closed eyes—so to speak —in the dark room of his studio, for he paints there what he feels.” (1)
1. John E. Staley, The Premier Painter of the Rockies, MacLean’s Magazine, December 1, 1912
FM Bell-Smith (1846-1923) Frederic Marlett Bell-Smith was born in London, the son of John Bell-Smith. He attended South Kensington Art Schools in London and The Academie Colarossi in Paris; he studied under both his father and Alexander Harrison. He came to Montreal in 1866, and worked as a photographer. He…
FM Bell-Smith (1846-1923) Frederic Marlett Bell-Smith was born in London, the son of John Bell-Smith. He attended South Kensington Art Schools in London and The Academie Colarossi in Paris; he studied under both his father and Alexander Harrison. He came to Montreal in 1866, and worked as a photographer. He was a founding member of the Society of Canadian Artists, Montreal, 1867. He lived and worked in, in Montreal, Hamilton and, and Toronto, making illustrations for newspapers and other periodicals. While in Hamilton Bell-Smith worked with James Inglis and L. Eckerson. In 1881 he began teaching, and was made Director of Fine Arts at Alma College, and was appointed Director of Fine Arts of Public Schools of London Ontario in 1882. Bell-Smith was also the principal of the Western Branch of the Toronto Art School from 1888-1890. Bell-Smith was featured often in the Canadian Illustrated News where he recorded local Canadian news events. In 1872 the artist accompanied Lord Dufferin to western Ontario. He traveled extensively to the Rocky Mountains under CPR sponsorship between 1887 and 1918, and joined the first CPR passes made available by William Van Horne. An accomplished artist Bell-Smith was made ARCA in 1880, and RCA in 1886. Bell-Smith is best known for his watercolour paintings of misty Canadian mountain peaks and glaciers as well as his street scenes and city-scapes of London. “Early Painters and Engravers of Canada” J. Russell Harper. 1970
