Painter. He was a well-known Canadian landscape artist best known for his works of the Rocky Mountains and the Selkirk Range (a mountain range spanning the Idaho Panhandle, the state of Washington, and the southeastern province of British Columbia). Born in London, England, to portrait painter and minaiturist John Bell-Smith and his wife, Georgina Boddy Bell-Smith, he began his art training under his father at a young age before immigrating to Montreal in 1867. After his arrival in Canada, he worked for several photographic firms beginning in Montreal, and then Toronto, and Hamilton. It was around this time that he also began to exhibit an interest in watercolours. By 1881, he was made the art director of the Alma College located in St. Thomas, Ontario. Shortly after his appointment to the college, Bell-Smith soon followed his dreams and began to travel to Quebec, Maine, Illinois, England, Holland, and other locales to sketch. Between 1888 and 1897, he continued to work vigorously and on the occasion of Queen Victoria's Jubilee he was granted a sitting by the queen in 1895. In 1897, he painted what is considered his finest work, the oil on canvas, "Westminsiter Bridge." His other works include "The Wave" (1892 to 1894), "In The Luxembourg Gardens" (1896), "The Daughters Of Canada" (1884), and several paintings of the Paris and London street scenes of the 1880s and 1890s. Considered a popular and prolific painter he was also noted for serving in many different posts including President of the Ontario Society of Artists, and as a Charter Member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts until his death. He was also the recipient of several awards and honours. His work can be seen in art museums all around the world. He died in Toronto in 1923 and was buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
Painter. He was a well-known Canadian landscape artist best known for his works of the Rocky Mountains and the Selkirk Range (a mountain range spanning the Idaho Panhandle, the state of Washington, and the southeastern province of British Columbia). Born in London, England, to portrait painter and minaiturist John Bell-Smith and his wife, Georgina Boddy Bell-Smith, he began his art training under his father at a young age before immigrating to Montreal in 1867. After his arrival in Canada, he worked for several photographic firms beginning in Montreal, and then Toronto, and Hamilton. It was around this time that he also began to exhibit an interest in watercolours. By 1881, he was made the art director of the Alma College located in St. Thomas, Ontario. Shortly after his appointment to the college, Bell-Smith soon followed his dreams and began to travel to Quebec, Maine, Illinois, England, Holland, and other locales to sketch. Between 1888 and 1897, he continued to work vigorously and on the occasion of Queen Victoria's Jubilee he was granted a sitting by the queen in 1895. In 1897, he painted what is considered his finest work, the oil on canvas, "Westminsiter Bridge." His other works include "The Wave" (1892 to 1894), "In The Luxembourg Gardens" (1896), "The Daughters Of Canada" (1884), and several paintings of the Paris and London street scenes of the 1880s and 1890s. Considered a popular and prolific painter he was also noted for serving in many different posts including President of the Ontario Society of Artists, and as a Charter Member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts until his death. He was also the recipient of several awards and honours. His work can be seen in art museums all around the world. He died in Toronto in 1923 and was buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
