Eric Brown (museum director)
Eric Brown was the first Director of the National Gallery of Canada. His tenure was from 1910–1939.
Career and biography
Eric Brown was born in Nottingham, England. His brother was the British landscape painter Sir John Arnesby Brown. In 1909, Brown immigrated to Canada at the invitation of F.R. Heaton, head of W. Scott and Sons, Montreal art dealers. Upon his arrival, Brown superintended a loan exhibition of British paintings in Montreal and worked for the Art Gallery of Toronto. While in Montreal and Toronto, Brown met Sir Edmund Walker, who hired him first to undertake work for the Toronto Art Association and then as both Secretary for the Advisory Arts Council and Curator of the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa. In 1910, Brown married Florence Maud Sturton of Holbeach, Lincolnshire, a teacher and graduate of Cambridge University.
Brown was an early supporter of the Group of Seven, and began buying their paintings for the Gallery’s collection several years before the Group was officially established. Brown also made sure they were well represented in Canadian art shows at the Wembley Exhibition in England.
Honours and awards
He was an honorary member of the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolours and received the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal and the King George VI Coronation Medal.