William Edwin Atkinson, ARCA, OSA (Canadian, 1862-1926) 
'River path at Twilight' 
Oil on canvas
signed & dated 1894 bottom left    
 
Sight dimensions, 10.5” high x 15.5” wide
Framed dimensions, 16.75” high x 25.75” wide
 
A finely executed 19th century ‘plein air’, Barbizon School inspired landscape by noted Canadian artist W.E. Atkinson.                                           
 
William Edwin Atkinson (1862-1926) 
Originally born in England but moved to Ontario, Canada with his parents when he was 2 years old. He enrolled at the Ontario School of Art in 1881 where he studied with Robert Harris & others, he later attended the Pennsylvania Art Academy in 1883 to study under Thomas Eakins. In 1889 he attended the Julian Academy in Paris where he studied privately with Paul-Leon Schmitt, Gabriel Ferrier, William-Adolphe Bouguereau & Paul-Louis Delance.                                   
In 1891 he won a prize for a landscape at the 1891 Exhibition at the Salon d ’Apollon in the Louvre.                                   
His works are very much influenced by the ‘plein air’ manner of the Impressionist & Barbizon schools, and demonstrate a subtle palette with sophisticated tonality, he is also known for deftly capturing the diffused, atmospheric quality of ambient light found during the twilight hours of early dawn & evening.                  
He was a member of the Ontario Society of Artists (OSA) from 1892-1907 and was elected an Associate Member of the Royal Canadian Academy (ARCA), where he exhibited from 1893-1923. He was also the founding member of The Canadian Art Club which was an art exhibition society showcasing the works of the leading Canadian artists of the day, from 1907 until 1915.                                                        
He is referenced along with illustrations of his work in ‘Impressionism in Canada, A Journey of Rediscovery’ by A.K Prakash, Published by Arnoldsche Art Publisher.                                                                                            His work is represented in the permanent collections of the National Gallery of Canada, the Art Collection of the Government of Ontario, & The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia.