Frederick James FINLEY (1894 - 1968) A.R.C.A.

Birds and the Sea, 1952, oil on masonite, 25 1/2 x 29 1/2 inches, signed lower left, Royal Canadian Academy of Arts label verso (1948). Frederick Finley was born in New Castle, Australia, and immigrated to Canada in 1925. He worked as a commercial artist first before becoming Director of Advertising & Design at the Ontario College of Art (1946-1960) until his retirement. Finley is best known for his paintings of how he envisioned life in Canada’s past, he also illustrated nine historical novels for young readers between 1947 and 1967. Finley is listed at the National Gallery of Canada.