Drawing (Original Cover Art, Norman Mills Price, Farmer's Advocate, Christmas 1916)

Date1916

Credit LineCollection of Museum London, 1993

Object number1993.050.001

Label TextThe pastel drawing by Norman Mills Price (1877-1951) is original cover art for the Christmas 1916 edition of "The Farmer’s Advocate." It is a fascinating study of three Canadian First World War (1914-1918) soldiers gloating over a box of Christmas treats from loved ones. Clearly for home consumption, this image is an idealized view of the experience of Canadian soldiers in winter at the front. It supports the call within the magazine itself for family and friends in Canada to make sacrifices so that they could send comforts to the troops. A Canadian-born illustrator, Norman Mills Price had been celebrated in his own time for his artistry and meticulous accuracy in capturing the details of costume, accessories, and surroundings in his works. As a boy growing up in Brampton, Ontario, Price was torn between becoming a carpenter, a professional musician, or an artist. Following his father’s advice, he chose to become an artist. In 1896, while studying at Toronto’s Central Ontario School of Art and Industrial Design, Price found work at Grip Limited. In this design and lithography firm, which later employed members of the Group of Seven, Price developed his talents. By 1902, he was ready for new challenges. Together with three Grip colleagues, Price went to England. There, they continued their studies and founded the Carlton Studios. Still connected to the business, Price moved to Paris in 1909. About his time in that city where he studied at the Académie Julian, Price wrote, “The principal thing gained by me in Paris was a knowledge of how to distinguish and appreciate subtlety of color [sic]…” Work in Paris brought Price to the attention of American publishers and in 1911, he moved to New York to establish a Carlton Studios office there. But the work was unsatisfying: “There began to be too many tooth-paste and chewing-gum drawings to be made, rather than illustrations with any ideal tendencies, so I severed all connections with Carlton Illustrators and became a freelance in 1912.” Price began to produce work for a variety of publications including: "Liberty," "Harper’s," "The Century," "American," "True," "Cosmopolitan," "Argosy," "Collier’s," "Macleans," "Woman’s Home Companion," and, as we see here, the "Farmer’s Advocate." His career continued until his death in 1951. As for the "Farmer's Advocate," William Weld had launched the journal in 1866 to provide practical farming advice and information. It ceased publication in 1965.

NameDrawing