BRITISH COLUMBIA ARTISTS  

William Jacobus (Jacques) Semeyn
(Baron William Jacobus Semeyn van Einkhausen)

June 5 1890 - May 23 1952

Island Arts & Crafts Society
IACS LIST OF EXHIBITORS
Architectural Institute of B.C. (Member #107)
Vancouver School of Decorative & Applied Arts (Founding teacher 1925-26)


Jacques Semeyn was born in Grouw, the Netherlands. He trained as an architect at the Technical School in Amsterdam from 1904 to 1907, then worked in Amsterdam for five years before emigrating to Canada. He visited Canada in 1907-1908, traveling by train across Canada to Victoria.

He inherited the title of Baron, a hereditary title which was bestowed on the family by Prince William of Orange (William III, 1533 - 1584).

 
Postcard mailed from Winnipeg in 1907

 
Postcard mailed from Vancouver in 1907

 
Postcard mailed from Victoria in 1908

After moving to Victoria Semeyn became partners with Samuel Maclure prior to starting his own practice. He later partnered with Karl Spurgin, listed in 1928 by the Architectural Institute of B.C. as Member number 62.

Semeyn exhibited artwork in the Second Exhibition of the Island Arts & Crafts Society in 1911. He was listed as an Intructor in design & interior decoration (1920).

He illustrated INDIAN LEGENDS OF VANCOUVER ISLAND in 1922.

     

He was a Design instructor at the Vancouver School of Decorative & Applied Arts in the 1925-26 school year. In the 1926 City Directory he is listed as a Draftsman working for Junkins Co., and living at 1390 Granville Street, the Continental Hotel. In the 1927 Directory he is listed as Engineer, employed by S.E. Junkins, living at the same address. The Sydney E. Junkins Co., B.C. Ltd., were Engineers and Constructors. Their office was in Suite 605 Metropolitan Building, 837 West Hastings Street. Semeyn is not listed in the City Directory in 1928.

He married Yvette Germaine Cross in Vancouver on July 1 1940. He was noted as Architect in the Building Industry, living at the Hotel Metropolitan.

He registered with the Architectural Institute of B.C. as member number 107. He retired as an Architect in 1950.

Semeyn died in Maple Bay in 1952, the death certificate noted that he was found drowned after a fall from a boat.


GROUP EXHIBITIONS
DATE EXHIBITION ARTWORK
1911 Oct. 5 - 7 IACS Alexandra Club   2nd Annual Sir William Wallace, Design for Hall Frieze
Modern Decorative Designs
Modern Decorative Designs

References

INDIAN LEGENDS OF VANCOUVER ISLAND, 1922, The Musson Book Co. Ltd., Toronto ON
       Text Alfred Carmichael, illust. Jacques Semeyn
       No ISBN (98 pages, paperback in leather cover) Illust. b&w drawings.

THE ARCHITECTURAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA HANDBOOK - 1928
      1928, published by AIBC, 90 pages
      Includes Register of Members, regulations, Architect's Act

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

BUILDING THE WEST - Early Architects of British Columbia
      2003; Edited by Donald Luxton, numerous contributing authors and researchers
      Talonbooks, ISBN 0-88922-474-9
      560 pages, extensively illustrated in black and white, some colour
      Biographies of over 400 architects and firms; extensive bibliography
      Full page biography of Semeyn on page 421, some building designs listed, also additional references.

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

Clippings

"That the art of the Indians of the Pacific Coast is not only bold, original, singular, and striking but also strong, virile and beautiful in its simplicity, is the opinion of J. Semeyn of Ansterdam (sic), Holland. ... (continues)."
      From "Pleased With Art of West Coast Indians"
      Semi-Weekly Colonist, March 2 1909.

"ROWBOAT LOST. Double-ender, about 12 feet long, painted white. Lost off Sidney, Wednesday, April 30. Finder please notify W.J. Semeyn, Hill Island. 5-1-1tp
      From Classified advertisements
      Sidney & Islands Review and Saanich Gazette, January 1919.

"The school has been open since September and during the past term 160 day pupils have been in attendance. ... Modelling instruction is under supervision of Mr. Charles Marega; elementary drawing, Mrs. Frank Hoole; costume design Mrs. T.J. Sharland; design Messrs. Theodore Korner and Jacobus Semeyn."
      From "Art School to Stage Exhibit"
      Vancouver Province, June 14 1926


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