RMS Olympic by Arthur Lismer. Source: Wikimedia
Arthur Lismer was a Sheffield born painter who helped to found Heeley Art Club in 1895. Along with other artists of the time he wanted to encourage the study and practice of pictorial art away from what were felt to be the narrow constraints of traditional approaches. He was the son of Edward Lismer, a draper, and his wife Harriett.
Arthur grew up in Nether Edge where he became apprenticed to a photo-engraving company and took evening classes at the Sheffield School of Art. In 1905 he moved to Belgium where his art was influenced by the post-expressionist movement. In 1911 he moved to Canada to take up a job with Grip Ltd, a satirical magazine. While he was at Grip Arthur collaborated with artist colleagues to form the Group of Four (later the Group of Seven) who were instrumental in establishing a new form of art in their adopted country, depicting the Canadian landscape as they saw it – freely and organically. This break with conventional studio methods and traditional academic rule was well-received and came to be viewed as a watershed in Canadian art.
In wartime Halifax, Nova Scotia Lismer was inspired by the shipping and naval activity of the port, notably the dramatically painted ‘dazzle’ ships with their patterns of curved and zigzag lines designed to mislead German U-boats and submarines. Lismer’s work came to the attention of Lord Beaverbrook who arranged for Lismer to be commissioned as an official war artist. His work from the war years depicted what he observed and learned about in Halifax: mine sweeping, convoying, patrolling and harbour defence. Lismer completed several major canvases during 1918 and 1919. After the war years he served as the President of the Victoria School of Art and Design. Arthur Lismer’s work in art education led him to be recognised as a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1967.
His parents Edward and Harriett were buried in the Nonconformist area of the Cemetery. You can read more about artists in Sheffield General Cemetery in the SGCT publication Canvas of Memories.