House by Forest, Alert Bay

House by Forest, Alert Bay, n.d. Gouache on paper by Rosemary James Cross (1924-2016)

House by Forest, Alert Bay, n.d. Gouache on paper by Rosemary James Cross (1924-2016)

Name/Title

House by Forest, Alert Bay

Entry/Object ID

2014.08.01

Description

Painting This image depicts a large multi-coloured house with out-buildings set against a forest background of various lively greens. Due to the bold use of colour, shape and texture, the painting is alive with movement and energy. The location is Alert Bay, a village on Cormorant Island, near the town of Port McNeill on northeast Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

Artwork Details

Medium

Gouache on paper

Subject Place

Region

Pacific Northwest

Continent

North America

Made/Created

Artist Information

Artist

Rosemary James Cross (1924-2016)

Role

Painter

Date made

n.d.

Time Period

20th Century

Notes

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY Born in Victoria, B.C., Rosemary James Cross was a talented, albeit little known Canadian artist, the daughter of prominent Victoria, B.C. architect P. Leonard James (and amateur watercolour painter) who, with partner Francis Rattenbury, designed Victoria's Crystal Garden that housed exotic gardens, dance floors and a saltwater pool. After high school graduation, Cross worked for her father, becoming a capable draughtsperson. She later taught drawing at the Provincial Craft School in Fredericton, New Brunswick where she achieved a certain measure of recognition. Cross returned to Victoria and she exhibited her art in local community venues. She trained under Ina D.D. Uhthoff (1889-1971) and was a member of The Group XIV, a group of dedicated amateur artists in Victoria. The Group provided support and an outlet for artists without commercial gallery representation. Cross traveled in Canada, China and India, with architecture or the built environment as the focus of her work. She used her photographs as source material, and was reportedly not interested in painting on location. Though most of her paintings never left her studio, she diligently continued working on her craft. Of note, a month-long retrospective of 50 of her works was held at Goward House in Victoria in 2014. In later years, Cross researched and wrote a biography of her architect father, and she received an Architectural Institute of British Columbia medal in recognition of her contribution to the field. For further information see - Rosemary James Cross, "The Life and Times of Victoria Architect P. Leonard James" (2007), available in the UCBC Library.

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Signature, Label

Location

Signed lower right: ROSEMARY JAMES CROSS

Transcription

Paper artist label verso frame upper centre (printed and pen & ink): ROSEMARY JAMES CROSS ARTIST ACRYLIC, OIL AND WATERCOLOUR PAINTINGS --- SCULPTURE --- HOUSE by the FOREST (Alert Bay) Gouache on Fabriano Museum grade matting 84P-03-03 349 LINDEN AVENUE VICTORIA, B.C. V8V 4G1 (604) 384-2461 Printed paper label verso frame lower left: 48. Rosemary James Cross House by Forest, Alert Bay $300 Lower centre verso frame: Options Framing Stamp

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Frame

Height

48.3 cm

Width

58.4 cm

Acquisition

Acquisition Method

Purchase

Date

2014

Notes

Rosemary James Cross Retrospective Art Show and Sale at Goward House, 2495 Arbutus Road, Victoria, B.C., May 30 - June 25, 2014