BRITISH COLUMBIA ARTISTS  

Spencer Perceval (also Percival) Judge

March 26 1874 - April 26 1956

South Kensington School of Art (London, England)
Vancouver Studio Club and School of Art (Founding Member 1904)
B.C. Society of Fine Arts (Charter Member 1909, Member 1909-1943, Life Member 1944-1956)
B.C. Society of Fine Arts/B.C. Society of Artists: Exhibitor's Timeline
Fellow, Royal Society of Artists (London, England)
British Columbia Artist (BCA, 1921)
Federation of Canadian Artists (Founding Member 1941)


Spencer Perceval Judge was one of the "wave" of trained English artists who emigrated to Canada around 1900 and settled in Vancouver. He became a major influence on the growth of art in Vancouver, as an artist, a teacher, a founder of art groups - especially the B.C. Society of Fine Arts, and as an author on art and crafts instruction.

He was born in Surbiton, England, and arrived in Vancouver in 1903 with his family. He was a founding member of the Vancouver Studio Club, and was one of its art teachers.

Judge exhibited in Vancouver, starting at least as early as 1903 in a group exhibition with T.W. Fripp and James Blomfield. In 1905 Judge, who became a noted marine artist, painted a series of watercolours of the early Union Steamship fleet. The paintings hung on the walls of the company's boardroom and the office of Gerald Rushton for many years, and were donated to Rushton after the company ceased operations. The paintings are now held by the Museum of Vancouver.

Judge advertised in Westward Ho! magazine for his School of Art in 1907, with a by-line noting that he was "certificated South Kensington, London, Eng."

In 1908 Judge was one of the founders of the B.C. Society of Fine Arts, and in 1909 exhibited in the group's debut First Annual Exhibition at the Dominion Hall in Vancouver. He was also elected as the first Honorary Treasurer of the Society. Later that year he exhibited seven paintings in the Exhibition of Pictures held by the Vancouver Studio Club and School of Art.


Book cover design



Advertisement in Vancouver City Directory 1910

In 1910 Judge illustrated the front cover of "Sea Room - A Vancouver Empire Song" by A.N. St. John Mildmay.

From 1910 to 1927 he exhibited his work with the Island Arts and Crafts Society in Victoria, B.C.

Judge married Hilda Irene Myra Haynes Hutchinson in Vancouver on August 27, 1912.


Inaugural issue 1919

Judge was primarily a watercolour painter, but he also loved to draw in pen and ink, and many of his illustrations were published in Vancouver. He drew the cover for the first issue of School Days magazine in September 1919, as well as numerous illustrations for articles in the magazine, including stories by R.S. Sherman.

Judge exhibited in the 1920 Annual Exhibition of the B.C. Society of Fine Arts, held at the Vancouver School Board offices on Hamilton Street.

Judge taught for the Vancouver School Board, starting in 1917 and continuing until his retirement in 1941. He was appointed Supervisor of Drawing in 1925 when Charles H. Scott moved to the new art school.

In 1924 Judge was Chairman of the High School Art Section, at the Sectional Programme of the Annual Teacher's Convention. (per B.C. teacher, March 1924). He exhibited his work in 1924 and 1926 at the Vancouver Exhibition. In 1925 Judge collaborated with Charles H. Scott and W.P. Weston to write and illustrate a teacher's Manual of Drawing and Design for Elementary and High Schools.

Judge published an article in the B.C. Teachers Federation pamphlet B.C. Teacher in the February 1928 issue. Another article titled Drawing and Graphic Expression was published in the May 1935 issue of the B.C. Teacher.

Judge showed his artwork in the B.C. Artists annual exhibitions at the Vancouver Art Gallery from 1932 - 1934, 1937 - 1939, and in 1941, 1943, 1947, and 1949. He also showed work in the B.C. Artists Christmas exhibition at the Gallery in 1933.

Judge continued to exhibit for many years with the B.C. Society of Fine Arts in their annual exhibitions, including 1942 and 1943.

In 1951 Judge collaborated with Jessie F.B. Parkes to write and illustrate a hardcover book titled Leathercrafts. Parkes was Supervisor of Handicrafts, and Judge retired Supervisor of Art (1927 - 1946), for the Vancouver School Board. By this time, Judge was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Artists.


SOLO EXHIBITIONS
DATE EXHIBITION LOCATION
1942 May 26 - June 14 Solo exhibition (18 pictures) VAG

GROUP EXHIBITIONS
DATE EXHIBITION ARTWORK
1909 April 20 - 28 BCSFA   First Annual Exhibition The Lions
Evening, Howe Sound
Mt. Garibaldi
The Lowland Road
Deadman's Island
Vancouver, From The Indian Mission
Coal Harbour
A Fresh Breeze
Waterfall, Lynne Creek
Moonrise
1909 June 19 - July 17 Studio Club   Exhibition of Pictures A Grey Morning
Near Second Beach
Johnson's Straits
Evening, English Bay
Mosquito Creek
Beach Avenue
Through the Narrows
1909 Oct. 27 - Nov. 6 Studio Club    Autumn Exhibition The Old Shack
Entering the Harbour
Golden Evening
Return Through the Narrows
"others distinctly interesting"
1909 November BCSFA   Second Exhibition Head of the Inlet
Back From the Orient
Posing
Fishguard Lighthouse
Haunt of the Ravens
Squally Day
Entrance to Esquimalt
From Albert Head, Victoria
The Arbutus Tree
1910 May BCSFA   Third Exhibition The Fishing Boat
A Squall
Near Campbell River
When the Tide is Out
Sunset in the Harbour
Signs of Rain
In the Park
1910 September IACS   1st Annual Exhibition The Arbutus Tree
Esquimalt
When the Tide is Out
The Waterfront, Vancouver
1911 November BCSFA   Fall Exhibition ("boathouse scene")
1912 Nov. 25 - 30 BCSFA   Annual Exhibition Moonlight, Egypt
Venice
On the Nile
Autumn, Japan
Agra
Indian Seas
Amalfi
1913 June 2 Wanderbund Club   Group Exhibition ?
1915 April BCSFA   Works by Members Egypt
The Chinese Junk
Venice
The Old Hulk
Japan
Kobe
Esquimalt
Sunset, Indian Ocean
Moonlight
1916 September BCSFA - Annual Exhibition The Arbutus
Shacks
(possibly others)
1920 September 18 - 25 BCSFA   Annual Exhibition Quiet Anchorage
Close of Day
Evening Light
The Pile-Driver
The Lagoon
Moonrise
1921 Sept. 19 - 24 BCSFA   13th Annual Cabin Morning
Across the Gulf
Mount Baker
Clam Bay
1922 Sept. 16 - 23 BCSFA   14th Annual Lumber
Evening, Cowichan
Pilot Bay
1924 May 3 - 17 BCSFA   16th Annual The Old Wagon
Sunlight and Shadow
The Arbutus
Waiting for the Tide
The Landing, Valdez Island
1924 Aug. 9 - 16 Vancouver Exhibition   Annual Exhibition The Sailing Ship
Waiting for the Tide
The Arbutus
1925 May 9 - 16 BCSFA   17th Annual Among the Islands
Night and Phosphorescence
"The Symphony Orchestra"
The Path Through the Wood
1926 May 8 - 15 BCSFA   18th Annual One Summer Day
Under the Trees
Indian Village
1927 June 10 - 25 BCSFA   19th Annual At the Edge of the Woods
Night in Summer
Fallen Leaves
1929 May 18 - June 8 BCSFA   21st Annual The Lighthouse
Saanich Inlet
Night Came
1929 Nov. 16 - 30 BCSFA   Winter Exhibition Northern Lights
Dawn
1932 May - July VAG   All Canadian Exhibition Night
1932 Oct. 5 - 30 VAG   B.C. Artists 1st Annual Night
The Anchorage
1933 June 3 - 11 VAG   BCSFA 23rd Annual Degnen Cove
Amongst the Islands
Sketch, Victoria
1933 Sept. 22 - Oct. 15 VAG   B.C. Artists 2nd Annual Race Rocks
Early Morning
Wind and Sea
1933 Dec. 1 - 17 VAG   B.C. Artists Christmas Exhibition The Sailing Ship
Enoshima, Japan
Ladysmith
1934 Sept. 21 - Oct. 14 VAG   B.C. Artists 3rd Annual Moonlight
Summer Eve
1934 ? - ? VAG   B.C. Artists Edmonton Exhibition Moonlight
Summer Evening
1935 Sept. 20 - Oct. 15 VAG   B.C. Artists 4th Annual Fish Boats
1937 Sept. 17 - Oct. 10 VAG   B.C. Artists 6th Annual Bucking the Tide
Across the Gulf
1938 Sept. 16 - Oct. 9 VAG   B.C. Artists 7th Annual The Southeaster
Drifting Through the Smoke
Ruxton Passage
1939 Sept. 15 - Oct. 8 VAG   B.C. Artists 8th Annual Mt. Baker
Ganges Lagoon
1940 May 17 - June 2 BCSFA   30th Annual Reflections
1941 Sept. 26 - Oct. 19 VAG   B.C. Artists 10th Annual Sunset and Moonrise
Drying Sails
1942 May 15 - 31 BCSFA   32nd Annual Sunshine and Shadow
1942 July 7 - Sept. 2 VAG   B.C. Artists 1st Annual Summer Gulf Islands
1942 Nov. 3 - 15 FCA   Red Cross Benefit (no information available)
1943 May 15 - June 6 BCSFA   33rd Annual Running with the Tide
1943 Sept. 25 - Oct. 20 VAG   B.C. Artists 12th Annual Storm, Howe Sound
1946 July 2 - 28 VAG   Jubilee Exhibition Night, Vancouver Harbour
1947 Sept. 20 - Oct. 12 VAG   B.C. Artists 16th Annual Night on the Boom
1948 May 18 -June 6 BCSFA   38th Annual Evening, West Bay, Howe Sound
Early Morning, Fulford Harbour, Vancouver Island
1949 Oct. 8 - 30 VAG   B.C. Artists 18th Annual Dying Nets, Musgrave's Landing
1950 April 25 - May 14 BCSA   40th Annual Vancouver Harbour 1919
Early Morning - Fulford Harbour V.I.

References - MONOGRAPHS

Refer to BIBLIO.

References - GROUP EXHIBITIONS

ISLAND ARTS & CRAFTS CLUB 5th ANNUAL EXHIBITION (refer to IACS14)

100 YEARS OF B.C. ART (refer to VAG58)

AN EXHIBITION OF OUR COLLECTION OF EARLY WESTERN CANADIAN WATERCOLORS (refer to UL78)

BEYOND THE CANVAS - Artists, Stories and the Sea (refer to VMM00)

References - GENERAL

SCHOOL DAYS magazine, published by the Vancouver School Board
      September 1919 - June 1930 (monthly except July and August)
      Contains articles, poems, contests, school information, student exercises.
      Numerous stories and illustrations by R.S. Sherman and his daughter Maud Sherman
      Also illustrations by Charles H. Scott and Spencer Perceval Judge (original cover design by Judge).

MANUAL OF DRAWING AND DESIGN FOR ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOLS
      by W.P. Weston, Charles H. Scott, S.P. Judge
      1925, Authorized by the Dept. of Education of B.C.; Nelson & Sons, Toronto
      Text and illustrations by Judge, Scott, and Weston; edited by Charles H. Scott

VANCOUVER CITY SCHOOLS - TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT 1925
      23rd Annual Report; Published by the Board of School Trustees, City of Vancouver
      136 pages illustrated; soft cover with drawing by Charles H. Scott
      Includes School of Decorative and Applied Arts Report by G.T. Sharp page 95,
      Also includes Drawing Report by S.P. Judge page 85.
      Art school references pages 10, 19, 26, art class photos pages 96 and 97
      Also complete statistics on students, attendance, buildings, teachers, courses, etc.

THE FINE ARTS IN VANCOUVER, 1886 - 1930 (refer to THOM69)

ARTISTS IN CANADA 1982 - UNION LIST OF ARTISTS' FILES (refer to AIC82)

ISLAND ARTS AND CRAFTS SOCIETY - List of Exhibitors

(surprisingly, not listed in McMann's Biographical Index of Canadian Artists, nor Macdonald)

VANCOUVER CITY ARCHIVES, ADD MSS 54: Vol. 13, J78
      Interview with Judge by Major J.S. Matthews.

VANCOUVER PUBLIC LIBRARY - B.C. ARTISTS FILES (refer to VPL)

CITY & PROVINCIAL DIRECTORIES 1907-17 (refer to DIR)

B.C. VITAL STATISTICS ON-LINE (refer to BCVS) marriage, death

Clippings

"The Studio Club, a new organization to Vancouver, will commence its active existence in premises situated over Trorey's store tomorrow afternoon. ... The club starts with a membership of thirty, of whom nineteen are working, and eleven honorary members. The officers are as follows: ... committee, Mr. Percival Judge ... "
      From "Studio Club Formed"
      Vancouver Province, March 10 1904

"Vancouverites of the future will be glad that ... S.P. Judge ... and other Vancouver artists find imagination in local scenes."
      From "Vancouver Studio Club Spring Exhibition"
      B.C. Saturday Sunset, July 3 1909

"S.P. Judge has also good local views, "Return Through the Narrows" and others distinctly interesting and meritorious."
      From "The Studio Club Autumn Exhibition" by Felix Penne
      B.C. Saturday Sunset, October 30 1909

"S.P. Judge has also had local inspiration and "The Old Shack" (15), "Entering The Harbour" (18), and "Golden Evening" (19), are happy bits."
      From "Vancouver Studio Club" by Felix Penne
      B.C. Saturday Sunset, November 6 1909

"The Studio Club, then as now, conducted classes for the teaching of art, S.P. Judge and J. MacKintosh being successively its instructors."
      From "Art in British Columbia" by Bernard McEvoy
      Opportunities Magazine, 1910

"S.P. Judge, before mentioned, has made a special study of marine painting. He is also an able and brilliant artist in black and white, and a competent scenic artist. As secretary of the B.C.S.F.A., he has done very valuable service, while his ability as a teacher has been fully recognized."
      "Art in British Columbia" by Bernard McEvoy
      Opportunities Magazine, 1910

"Mr. S.P. Judge's "Boathouse Scene" (59) ... are among the best of the remaining landscapes and sea pieces."
      From "Some Pictures by B.C. Artists" by A.N. St. John Mildmay
      News Advertiser, November 21 1911

"This year's exhibitors were ... S.P. Judge ... "
      From "Fine Arts Society Makes Fine Exhibit"
      Vancouver Daily World, November 23 1911

"The pictures showed up strongly against the buff-toned walls and the miniatures and photos were arranged on flower-decked tables. The principal exhibitors were ... Mr. S. Judge ... "
       From (Wanderbund Club Exhibition)
       Vancouver Sun, June 3 1913

"In "The Arbutus", a rather large watercolor, Mr. S.P. Judge displays the influence of a certain school of modern British colorists who had a considerable vogue in the New English Art Club in London a couple of seasons ago. In this picture No. (8?), the drawing is really subsidiary to the color and as an adventure the effort is decidedly interesting, containing more study of effect than appears on the surface. Except as a means of estimating the size of the tree portrayed, the figure introduced is not of great significance. In a small pastel entitled "Shacks", No. (56?) Mr. Judge has made the best of an indigenous subject."
      From "With The B.C. Artists" by "A Visitor"
      Vancouver Province, September 27 1916

"In "Waiting for the Tide" Mr. S.P. Judge shows us the pathos of sandy flats and an idle boat looking as stoical as the Indians it accommodates. There is the total absence of motion that comes to dead tidewater."
      From "Exhibition of B.C. Society of Fine Arts (Second Notice)"
      Vancouver Province, May 9 1924

"S.P. Judge, foster-father of the society, is seen with good effect in his "B.C. Coast." His sky is well done and his portrayal of the lonely coast excellent. He has also three other pictures."
      From "B.C. Society of Fine Arts" by Diogenes
      Vancouver Province, November 13 1930

"The Judge Family is well represented with S.P. Judge and the Misses Grace and May P. Judge all exhibiting."
      From "Bargains in Art" by D.S.M.
      Vancouver Sun, December 1 1933

"Artists represented in the group comprise the following ... S.P. Judge ... "
      From "Maritime Art Association"
      Vancouver Art Gallery Bulletin, November (?) 1939

" ... together with oil and watercolour paintings by ... S.P. Judge ... all contribute much to this extraordinary show."
      From "B.C. Society of Fine Arts Display Sets New High Mark" by Palette
      Vancouver Province, May 16 1942

"The new executive committee is composed of ... S.P. Judge ... and S.P. Judge were elected life members."
      From "B.C. Artists' Display To Calgary For Exhibition" by Palette
      Vancouver Province, May-June 1942

" ... Among those contibuting paintings and drawings are: ... S.P. Judge ... "
      From "Noted Artists Offer Paintings For Red Cross"
      Vancouver Province (presumed), November 1942

"Among other prominent exhibitors are ... S.P. Judge ... "
      From "Summer Show at Gallery Major Event for Art Lovers" by Palette
      Vancouver Province, July 7 1943

"The original group of founders included ... S.P. Judge and John Kyle, both of whom are still happily interested in art ... "
"The foregoing history was written by J. Delisle Parker, in collaboration with the Society's historian, S.P. Judge."
      From "B.C. Society of Artists - A History" by J.D. Parker
      B.C. Society of Fine Arts 40th Annual Exhibition Catalogue, 1950

"Spencer Percival Judge, 82. Former art supervisor for Vancouver Schools. Died Thursday. (26th) Made his living as a free lance artist. Joined Vancouver school system in 1917; retired 1941. One of the founders of the B.C. Society of Fine Arts. Born in Surrey, England and came to Vancouver in 1903. Funeral was held today, Harron Bros. Ltd. Chapel; cremation. 3 sisters Miss R. Judge, Vancouver; Miss M.P. and Miss G. Judge in North Vancouver; 2 brothers Frank in North Vancouver; Harry in Jersey, Channel Islands."
      Vancouver Province, April 30 1956 p 34 col 5

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