William Blair Bruce 1859-1906

A distinguished Canadian artist, Bruce spent his childhood in a house which stood on this property. He was educated in Hamilton where he studied draughtsmanship and painting. In 1881 he entered the Académie Julien, Paris, to study art under Fleury and Bouguereau. Working in oils, he became a painter of great versatility, and was a frequent exhibitor at the Salon de Paris. His canvases included landscapes, sea-scapes, portraits and subject pictures. Although Bruce lived in France and Sweden until his death, many of his well-known works, including "The Smiths", "Bathers of Capri", "La Joie des Néreides" and "The Phantom Hunter" are held by the Art Gallery of Hamilton and the National Gallery of Canada.