Canadian [1876-1941]
Manitoba Society of Artists
Frank Armington was born in Fordwich, Ontario. Beginning in 1892, he studied under portrait artist J.W.L. Forster for seven years. It was during these classes that he met Caroline Wilkinson, his future wife. Frank visited Paris in 1900, to study at the Académie Julian. In 1903, while living and teaching in Manitoba, Frank became a founding member and first Vice President of the Manitoba Society of Artists. During his years in Winnipeg, Frank worked with the Winnipeg Tribune and taught at Havergal College, supplementing his income with various commercial-art assignments.
He exhibited his work at the Winnipeg Industrial Exhibitions from 1902-1905 before returning to Paris with Caroline. Here, Frank attended the Académie de la Grande Chaumière and enrolled once again at Académie Julian.
One of his paintings was accepted for the Salon d’Automne in Paris and his work would continue to be accepted into the French Salons for some years to come. Frank began to etch in 1906, learning the techniques from a fellow student. Both he and Caroline soon became proficient. In 1910, the National Gallery of Canada purchased four of his etchings, with additional examples purchased the following year.
Around this time, he and Caroline had a joint show of their work at the Nova Scotia Museum of Fine Arts in Halifax. They then traveled across Canada while working on the CPR commission (these works are illustrated in the book “Sixty Days in Canada”. In 1915, Frank donated 28 etchings to the New York Public Library.
In 1928, the Library of Congress purchased fourteen of his etchings including seven nudes. In 1929 Frank and Caroline held a joint show at the Art Gallery of Toronto (now the Art Gallery of Ontario). Not only did Frank Armington produce numerous etchings in his career but was an accomplished painter of both landscapes and portraits. Following Caroline’s death in 1939, Frank remained in New York for the remainder of his life.
The Armingtons made Paris their home for almost four decades, traveling throughout France, and to numerous countries including Belgium, England, Italy, Sweden, and Algeria. Their print work depicts sites encountered during their trips and they were involved with etching societies in France, England and the United States.
Initially popular with travelers, their accomplished etchings can be found in numerous international collections including: National Gallery of Canada (Ottawa); Art Gallery of Ontario (Toronto); Glenbow Museum (Calgary); Library of Congress and National Gallery of Art (Washington D.C.); The Met (New York); Museum of Fine Arts (Boston); British Museum (London); The Louvre (Paris), and many more.
Literature: “Caroline and Frank Armington: Canadian Painter-Etchers in Paris”; Janet Braide and Nancy Parke-Taylor; Art Gallery of Peel; 1990.
QUAI AUX FLEURS, PARIS; 1933
oil on canvas
36 x 28 in. (91.4 x 71.1 cm)
Sold for $ 16,380 – February 2022
GRAND CANAL, VENICE; 1936
oil on canvas
28.75 x 36.25 in.
Sold for $ 11,700 – May 2017
LA SIESTE; 1924
LE REPOS; 1923
UN BON PETIT SOMME; 1924
etching on paper (3)
various sizes; various editions
Sold for $ 2,530 – May 2012
ZION GATE JERUSALEM; 1936
pastel and coloured pencil on paper
11.5 x 9 ins.
Sold for $ 1,15 – November 2006
MT. EDITH, BANFF, ALTA; 1902
watercolour heightened with white on paper
9.5 x 6.5 in.
Sold for $ 805 – November 2009
PONT D’AUSTERLITZ, PARIS; 1916
coloured pencil on paper
12 x 9 in.
Sold for $ 747.50 – November 2009
RUNDLE RANGE, BANFF, ALTA
watercolour heightened with white on paper
8.25 x 14.5 in.
Sold for $ 632.50 – June 2010
We are always seeking works by Frank Milton Armington to be included in future auctions.
If you are interested in selling with us, or wish to get our opinion of the value of your artworks, please contact us for an appointment to evaluate your artwork for auction.
Alternately, you can easily submit details of your artworks through our Request of Auction Estimates form.
Artist: Frank Milton Armington
Title: TAILLEUR INDIGENE, CONSTANTINE
Date: 1914
Medium: etching on paper; ed. #16/50
Dimensions: 10 3/4 x 6 3/4 in.
Notes:
signed, dated & editioned; titled in plate
LOT: 141
Auction: 2006 May | Hodgins Art Auctions
Artist: Frank Milton Armington
Title: RUE DE L'EPICERIE, ROUEN
Date: 1923
Medium: etching on paper; ed. #31/50
Dimensions: 6 1/4 x 4 3/4 in.
Notes:
signed, dated & editioned; titled in plate
LOT: 207
Auction: 2006 May | Hodgins Art Auctions
Artist: Frank Milton Armington
Title: GRAND CANAL, VENICE
Date: 1913(31)
Medium: etching on paper; ed. 37
Dimensions: 13 1/4 x 10 1/2 in.
Notes:
signed
Illustrated Pg. 161 in ‘Caroline and Frank Armington, Canadian Painter Etchers in Paris”.
Note: Two states were recorded for this work, with four ‘spreuves d’essai’ (numbered 1/4 to 4/4). The plate was presented to the Chalcographic du Louvre on 25 February 1931, and thirty-seven impressions were then printed by the Louvre.
LOT: 436
Auction: 2006 May | Hodgins Art Auctions
Artist: Frank Milton Armington
Title: ZION GATE JERUSALEM
Date: 1936
Medium: pastel and coloured pencil on paper
Dimensions: 11.5 x 9 in.
Notes:
signed, titled & dated
LOT: 49
Auction: 2006 November | Hodgins Art Auctions
Artist: Frank Milton Armington
Title: MT. EDITH, BANFF, ALTA
Date: 1902
Medium: watercolour heightened with white on paper
Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 in. (24.1 x 16.5 cm)
Notes:
signed, titled & dated
LOT: 84
Auction: 2009 November | Hodgins Art Auctions
Artist: Frank Milton Armington
Title: PONT D'AUSTERLITZ, PARIS
Date: 1916
Medium: coloured pencil on paper
Dimensions: 12 x 9 in. (30.5 x 22.9 cm)
Notes:
signed, titled & dated
Provenance: Masters Gallery, Calgary; Estate of Frank Armington’s second wife, New York
LOT: 138
Auction: 2009 November | Hodgins Art Auctions
Since 1983, Hodgins Art Auctions is your trusted source for buying and selling art by Frank Milton Armington and other important Canadian artists.
We are always accepting consignments of quality Canadian & International art.
At Hodgins you will always be dealing with a knowledgeable partner in the company. We provide responsive and efficient service, transparency, and are committed to your satisfaction.