Robert George Davidson
February 10 1907 - August 4 1980
Commercial Art Studios (1932-1935)
Beatrice Stone Medal (awarded 1938)
Portland, Oregon 1943, photo courtesy family collection
Robert Davidson was born at home in Vancouver in 1907. He took private art training in Vancouver
and studied at the Chouinard Institute in Los Angeles, California (founded 1921).
He is listed in the City Directories in Vancouver from 1931 to 1938.
In 1931 he is listed as a commercial artist at 732 Richards Streets, residence
at 891 West 63rd Avenue, Vancouver. From 1932 to 1935 he is listed at the
Commercial Art Studios, #1426 - 510 West Hastings Street, in association with
Edward A. King. From 1936 to 1938 he is listed only at
his residence on 63rd, no occupation noted, and in 1939 he is not listed.
1938 Beatrice Stone prize winner, image courtesy Vancouver Art Gallery Library
He exhibited artwork in the 1935, 1937, and 1938 annual B.C. Artists' exhibitions
at the Vancouver Art Gallery. In 1937 he received an Honourable Mention
for his painting "Threatening Clouds", and in 1938 won the Beatrice Stone
Medal for his work "Near Fort Langley".
Davidson's Beatrice Stone medal, photo courtesy family collection
Davidson moved to Los Angeles, California in 1939. While there he worked for Walt Disney on
the animated film Pinocchio, specifically the stage coach scene. The 1940 US census lists him
as a commercial artist for a book publisher. He married Elsie Louisa Day in Vancouver,
Washington, on August 6 1940. In 1941 he was living in Portland, Oregon.
He died in Portland in 1980, where he is buried.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
| DATE |
EXHIBITION |
ARTWORK |
|
|
|
| 1935 Sept. 20 - Oct. 15 |
VAG
B.C. Artists 4th Annual |
A Portrait |
|
|
Japanese Mending Net |
| 1937 Sept. 17 - Oct. 10 |
VAG
B.C. Artists 6th Annual |
Threatening Clouds |
| 1938 Sept. 16 - Oct. 9 |
VAG
B.C. Artists 7th Annual |
Dust Bowl |
|
|
Mah Tim |
|
|
Near Fort Langley |
References
DIRECTORIES 1931 - 1938 Vancouver
Email correspondence with family members August - September 2022.
Clippings
"The Beatrice Stone Silver Medal, awarded annually
for a painting in oil of a high order of merit, has this year been won by
Mr. Robert G. Davidson of Vancouver, for
his picture "Near Fort Langley, B.C." a reproduction of which appears on
the cover of this issue. ... "
From "Medal Awards in B.C. Artists' Exhibition"
Vancouver Art Gallery Bulletin Vol. 6 No. 2 October 1938
Information provided courtesy Joanna Spurling, VAG Library & Archives
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