Thoreau MacDonald

Thoreau MacDonald (April 21, 1901 – May 30, 1989)Template:Sfn was a Canadian illustrator, graphic and book designer, and artist. Template:Sfn

Career

MacDonald was the son of Group of Seven member J. E. H. MacDonald. He was self-taught, but had worked on commercial art with his father, who was famous for his work in design.Template:Sfn Thoreau MacDonald was colour blind and as a result he worked primarily in black and white.Template:Sfn

MacDonald's contribution was mainly to the history of the area of graphic art in Canada and the United States. As an illustrator, MacDonald worked for Ryerson Press; Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire; the Canadian Forum magazine for which he designed many covers;Template:Sfn and on books in general, including those from his private press.Template:Sfn (In 1933 MacDonald launched Woodchuck Press, his own imprint for which he provided some text, illustrations, and design (it lasted until 1946)).Template:Sfn

He considered his finest book to be Maria Chapdelaine by Louis Hémon for Macmillan Company (1938).Template:Sfn He also designed lettering,Template:Sfn and did paintings, watercolours and drawings.Template:Sfn His work is found in the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, Hart House at the University of Toronto, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and the McMichael Canadian Art Collection among other collections.Template:Sfn There was one major exhibition of his work in Canada during his lifetime in 1952 at Museum London (then called the London Public Library and Art Museum).Template:Sfn In 1972, he was made an Honorary Life member of the Society of Ontario Naturalists whose cause he considered he had served life-long.Template:Sfn

His former home and garden in Vaughan, Ontario, which he inherited from his father, was donated to the City of Vaughan in 1974. The building and grounds have been restored and are open to the public.

Thoreau Mcdonald's fonds is in the E.P. Taylor Research Library & Archives, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Thoreau MacDonald Collection CA OTAG SC104.

Artworks

• Bookplate designed by Thoreau MacDonald. University of British Columbia. Library. Rare Books and Special Collections. Thomas Murray Collection
  Bookplate designed by Thoreau MacDonald. University of British Columbia. Library. Rare Books and Special Collections. Thomas Murray Collection
• J. E. H. MacDonald, Thoreau MacDonald, January 12, 1902. McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Kleinburg
  J. E. H. MacDonald, Thoreau MacDonald, January 12, 1902. McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Kleinburg
• Tom Thomson, Day Dreaming,Template:Efn Winter 1913–15. Location unknown
  Tom Thomson, Day Dreaming,Template:Efn Winter 1913–15. Location unknown

External links

• Thoreau MacDonald collection at the National Gallery of Canada
• Thoreau and J.E.H. MacDonald fonds at the National Gallery of Canada