With the death of Stanley D. Tytler, well-known nonagenarian artist, the
B.C. art world has lost one of its most interesting personalities. Mr. Tytler died Wednesday at Kingsway
Nursing Home. The story of his life is a colorful tale of adventure and romance.
Born on June 21, 1857, on the ridge occupied by British troops overlooking the ancient Indian
capital, he was probably the last survivor of the historic siege of Delhi.
Mr. Tytler's middle initial stand for Delhi-Force in commemoration of the Delhi Field Force with
which his father was serving as captain. Later Captain Tytler became a colonel and governor of
the Andaman Islands where a mountain, Mount Harriet, was named by Lord Napier in honor of the
artist's mother.
SAW MUCH ADVENTURE
The dramatic circumstances attending his birth during this critical period in the Indian Mutiny
are related at considerable length by Field Marshal Lord Roberts in his famous "Forty-One Years
in India."
As a young man Stanley D. Tytler saw much adventure in South Africa during the two Zulu wars.
As a lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion, Natal Native Contingent, he was with the troops which
brought in the body of the Prince Imperial slain in an ambush by Zulu warriors.
After spending many years of his youth in India, he went to China, painted the Australian bush,
and finally in 1894 came to Vancouver where he has since resided.
One of the pioneers in fostering art interest in the province Mr. Tytler became president of
the leading professional body of artists in the West, the B.C. Society of Fine Arts,
and was active in the establishment of the Art Gallery. Highly esteemed
by his associates in the art world the artist was greeted last year on his ninetieth birthday
by a special delegation of the society.
Unusually well preserved for his age, Mr. Tytler until recently often worked two hours a day
in his spacious garden overlooking Burnaby Lake. Although his vision and hearing were not
perfect he was always singularly cheerful and his conversation was a delight to those
privileged to know him.
The artist's youngest brother, in a family of seven, was the late General Sir Arthur Tytler,
DSO, KCB. The deceased is survived by his widow, one son, one daughter, six grandchildren,
and one brother. The funeral will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday at St. Albans' Church,
New Westminster.
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