Jessie Dow award, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts Spring Shows (1946 and 1947) and four major prizes, Montreal Art Directors' Club
Franklin Arbuckle (nicknamed Archie) RCA (February 17, 1909 – July 29, 2001) was a Canadian illustrator, painter and educator who contributed more than 100 covers and many illustrations to Maclean's magazine in a 60-year career.[1]
When he graduated he taught at Northern Vocational School in Toronto, took classes and taught in a summer art school run by Franz Johnston, and worked as a commercial artist. During the Second World War, he became an illustrator. He worked for Bomac Engravers in Toronto,[3] an engraving company with offices in Ottawa and Montreal which moved Arbuckle and his family to Montreal (1941-1958). During these years, he exhibited his paintings at the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts from 1932 to 1966,[4] in a solo exhibition at the Art Gallery of Toronto (later the Art Gallery of Ontario) in 1940 and a group exhibition in 1941,[5][6] and in the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts from 1946 to 1967.[7][8]
He did his first cover for Maclean's magazine in 1944. Directed by the magazine editors, Arbuckle went cross-country by Canadian Pacific Railway and did paintings for covers and illustrations of different subjects. His total production numbered over 100 covers as well as illustrations for many articles.[9]
The Arbuckle family returned to Toronto in 1958 and Arbuckle taught at the Ontario College of Art till 1989. During this time, he illustrated a number of books on historical themes including "Great Canadians" (1965)[10] and "They Shared to Survive, The Native People of Canada" (1975)[11] as well as illustrating historical themes for major Canadian corporations such as Seagram's (today this collection is in the McCord Museum, Montreal)[12][13] and the Pulp and Pape Industry of Canada (1951).[14] He also painted murals, including one for Hamilton City Hall (1961)[15][16] as well as designing tapestries.[17]
^A Dictionary of Canadian Artists, volumes 1-8 by Colin S. MacDonald, and volume 9 (online only), by Anne Newlands and Judith Parker National Gallery of Canada / Musée des beaux-arts du Canada
