Augustus Frederick Lafosse Kenderdine Paintings

Augustus Frederick Lafosse Kenderdine was a British-born Canadian artist and educator, widely recognized for his contributions to the development of art in Saskatchewan, Canada. He was born on March 31, 1870, in Manchester, England. Kenderdine received his art education at the Manchester School of Art and subsequently at the Académie Julian in Paris, where he was influenced by the French Impressionist movement.

Kenderdine immigrated to Canada in 1908, initially settling in Manitoba before moving to Saskatchewan. In 1936, he was instrumental in establishing the first art school in Saskatchewan, the University of Saskatchewan's College Art School in Saskatoon, reflecting his commitment to art education and the cultivation of local artistic talent. Kenderdine's dedication to teaching and his influence on his students were profound, and his legacy includes not only the artworks he created but also the educational foundations he laid for future generations of artists in the region.

As an artist, Kenderdine is best known for his landscape paintings, which capture the spirit and essence of the Canadian prairies. His work is characterized by vibrant colors and a broad, expressive brushwork that reflects the dynamic and changing skies, seasons, and topography of the landscape. He often painted en plein air, working directly from nature, which allowed him to capture the immediacy and changing light of the scenes he depicted.

Kenderdine's paintings have been exhibited widely, and his works are held in several Canadian public collections, including the National Gallery of Canada. He continued to paint and teach until his death on August 3, 1947, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Today, Kenderdine's contributions to Canadian art history are remembered and celebrated, and the Kenderdine Art Gallery at the University of Saskatchewan, named in his honor, continues to promote the appreciation of art within the community.