Discover Ontario's history as told through its plaques

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Franz Johnston 1888-1949

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted June, 2004

Photo Source - Wikipedia

Plaque Location

The County of Simcoe
The Township of Tiny
In Wyebridge, on the east side of Road 93
just south of Mill Street

Coordinates: N 44 41.663 W 79 52.963

Click here for a larger map

Plaque Text

This was the home and studio, 1940-48, of the noted Canadian painter Francis Hans (Franz) Johnston. Born in Toronto, he studied there and in the United States, and at first worked as a commercial artist. An official war artist, 1917-18, he participated in the first exhibition of the Group of Seven in 1920. With others of the Group, he captured on canvas the lonely grandeur of the Canadian northland, thus ending Canadian dependence on Europe for artistic inspiration and inaugurating our first national art movement. Johnston, who was principal of the Winnipeg School of Art, 1921-24, also taught in Toronto, 1927-29, and from then until 1940 conducted summer classes on Georgian Bay.

Related Toronto plaques
Lawren Harris 1885-1970
Studio Building

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Tiny Township Plaques

Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

> Posted December 15, 2018
My name is Rick Johnston, I am a descendent of Franz Johnston. He was my father's great uncle. Wondering if there's any of his work for sale. Thanks.

> Posted November 11, 2015
Was the original sold from the Toronto museum to the collector from New York? I believe I may have it.

> Posted October 21, 2015
I have a Shack in the Woods, framed painting I want to sell but not sure of its value. It is in great condition with the signed plaque on the bottom. Can anyone please tell me its worth? I want to sell it for my grandmother and don't want to just "give it away" or over charge.
Thank you, Sheila Roberson

> Posted August 16, 2014
We have a print of A Shack in the Woods in our cottage in Parry Sound in Ontario. It used to hang in Victoria School in St. Catharines before the school closed after many years.

> Posted July 14, 2014
I have a question regarding Frank (Franz) Johnston's painting 'A Shack in the Woods'. If the painting has his name and the credentials A.R.C.A., O.S.A (1888 - 1949) on the bottom of the ornate gold frame does this indicate that the painting might be an original? Or do the copies also have this notation on the frame? Also, does the original need to have his signature on it? I do have a painting of it.
Thank you very much, Bonnie Little

> Posted July 19, 2013
Many thousands of prints were made of Franz Johnston's "A Shack In The Woods". I might be wrong about this but I think the original was sold to a private collector from New York in 1940 and, apart from the prints, it hasn't been seen since. This is an amazing painting and if you somehow find yourself lucky enough to have the original it is likely worth north of one hundred or even two hundred thousand dollars.

> Posted March 3, 2013
I own a print of "The Singing Stream". Does anyone have any info on it? I believe it was painted near Wyebridge by F.Johnston.

> Posted November 24, 2011
I own a painting "Shack in the Woods" by Franz Johnston. Wondering if it is of any value.

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