Subseries

This
subseries documents the professional relationship between Clarence A. Gagnon
and his patron James Morgan. It is composed of five typewritten letters
(probably copies of letters sent) from Gagnon to the Montreal businessman.

The
correspondence covers a relatively short period from December 9, 1905, to
August 28, 1907, when Gagnon was living in France. Financial support from
Morgan had enabled Gagnon to study under painter Jean-Paul Laurens at the
Académie Julian in Paris, from 1904 to 1905. In his letters, the young artist
shares some news of a personal nature, but primarily informs his benefactor of
the evolution of his work and career at a time when he was earning particular
acclaim for the quality of his etchings.

In a letter
dated December 9, 1905, Gagnon announces that he was accepted at the Exhibition
of the American Art Association in Paris and invited by two well-known American
etchers to join them in a Paris exhibition of etchings in January. He reports
on the success of this exhibition in a letter dated January 16, 1906, as well
as the fact that the prestigious Gazette des Beaux-Arts would like to
publish one of his etchings. On May 30, 1906, he informs Morgan that he
received an honourable mention at the Salon [of the Société des artistes
français], was invited by Liverpool to exhibit his Salon picture in the fall,
and received an offer from a Philadelphia firm to reproduce the picture in
question.

Despite
these successes, Gagnon's correspondence also reveals the sometimes difficult
conditions he faced as a young artist. In his December 9, 1905, letter for
example, he apologizes to Morgan for not sending some prints sooner. He
explains that he must "depend on the press of a friend etcher" as he
cannot afford one of his own. In a letter dated November 24, 1906, he recounts
the major costs associated with producing a painting (model's salary, clothing
and accessories, heating, framing).

Gagnon also
shares his artistic interests in the correspondence. For example, on August 28,
1907, he writes from Dinard, in Brittany, where he was "having [his] real
first try at painting the sea and the life around the plages [sic]." He
believes that discovering new places brings more variety to an artist's work.
He notes that he is particularly attracted to Japan, where he would like to
spend two or three years. Moreover, in his letter of December 9, 1905, he
expresses his admiration for examples of the Barbizon school of painting that
he saw at an auction of the Cronier Collection several days prior.

Finally,
two of these letters provide some information about the young artist's personal
life. In his letter dated November 24, 1906, he mentions his relationship with
Miss Graham, explaining that they were simply good friends and had never been
engaged. Nearly a year later, his August 28, 1907, letter to Morgan announces
his engagement to Kathryne Irwin.