Mining Town, Northern Ontario, Cobalt
Sir Frederick Banting 1932
Sir Frederick Grant Banting KBE MC FRS FRSC (November 14, 1891 – February 21, 1941) was a Canadian medical scientist, physician, painter, and Nobel laureate noted as the co-discoverer of insulin and its therapeutic potential.
In late 1925, Fred struck up a friendship with A.Y. Jackson of ‘Group of Seven’ fame and also joined the Hart House Sketch Club, University of Toronto.
In 1927, Fred accompanied Jackson on at least 2 sketching trips; one on the South shore of the St. Lawrence and one aboard the Canadian Navy ice-breaker, ‘Boethic’ for a 6 week tour of various RCMP posts in the Arctic. The pair undertook many other such journeys in the following decade.
In 2 decades, Fred produced hundreds of sketches and oil paintings. The exact number is not known but an exhibit of his work held at Hart House, University of Toronto, in 1943, included 241 items; mostly paintings on birch panels (8.5” x 10.5”) but some larger works on canvas (21” x 36”).
In all about him as a scientist, I had no idea he was an artist.
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