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Robert Pilot (1898-1967) | Impressionist painter

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Robert Wakeham Pilot MBE RCA was a Canadian artist🎨, who worked mainly in oil on canvas or on panel, and as an etcher and muralist.
Pilot was born on 9 October 1898, at St. John's, Newfoundland, to Edward Frederick Pilot and his wife Barbara (née Merchant).
In 1910, his widowed mother married the artist, Maurice Cullen, moving into Cullen's home in Montreal.
As a child, Pilot assisted Cullen in his studio, and the two would take sketching trips together.


He later studied in Montreal under William Brymner, then, in March 1916, joined the army.
He served as a gunner on trench mortars in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, Fifth Division Artillery, during World War I.
From 1920-1922, he studied at the Académie Julian in Paris.
In 1922, he exhibited at the Paris Salon🎨.
His work took on Impressionist influences after he visited the artists' colony at Concarneau.
On returning to Canada, he was elected as an associate of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in 1925, serving as the Academy's president from 1952-1954.
His first solo show was in 1927, at the Watson Art Galleries.
He won the Jessie Dow Prize🎨 in that year and in 1934.



He re-enlisted in 1941, during World War II, serving as a Captain in The Black Watch, and was mentioned in dispatches while in Italy, which resulted in him being made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1944.
He was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal🎨 in 1953.
Paintings by Pilot were presented to Winston Churchill🎨 and to Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh.
Others are in the collection of the National Gallery of Canada and the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec.
Pilot died at Montreal General Hospital on 17 December 1967, and was survived by his wife Patricia (née Dawes) and son, Wakeham.
A retrospective exhibition of his work was held at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in 1969. | © Wikipedia













Robert Wakeham Pilot MBE RCA (1898-1967) è stato un artista Canadese🎨, incisore e muralista.
Pilot nacque il 9 ottobre 1898 a St. John's, Terranova, da Edward Frederick Pilot e sua moglie Barbara (nata Mercante). 
Nel 1910, sua madre vedova sposò l'artista, Maurice Cullen, trasferendosi nella casa di Cullen a Montreal.
Da bambino, Pilot assisteva Cullen nel suo studio, ed i due avrebbero fatto viaggi di sketch insieme.
In seguito studiò a Montreal con William Brymner, poi, nel marzo del 1916, si arruolò nell'esercito. Ha prestato servizio come cannoniere su mortai di trincea nella Canadian Expeditionary Force, Quinta divisione artiglieria, durante la prima guerra mondiale.
Dal 1920-1922, studiò all'Académie Julian di Parigi.
Nel 1922, espose al Salon di Parigi🎨.
Il suo lavoro ha assunto influenze impressioniste dopo aver visitato la colonia di artisti a Concarneau.
Al suo ritorno in Canada, fu eletto Socio della Royal Canadian Academy of Arts nel 1925, servendo come presidente dell'Accademia dal 1952-1954.
La sua prima mostra personale fu nel 1927, presso la Watson Art Galleries.


Vinse il Premio🎨 Jessie Dow nel 1927 e nel 1934.
Si arruolò nuovamente nel 1941, durante la seconda guerra mondiale, come Capitano in The Black Watch, e fu menzionato in dispacci mentre si trovava in Italia, il che lo fece diventare Membro dell'Ordine dell'Impero Britannico (MBE) ) nel 1944.
Nel 1953 gli fu conferita la medaglia🎨 per incoronazione della Regina Elisabetta II.
I dipinti di Pilot furono presentati ad Winston Churchill🎨, alla regina Elisabetta II ed al duca di Edimburgo.
Altri sono nella collezione della National Gallery of Canada e del Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Québec.
Pilota morì all'Ospedale Generale di Montreal il 17 dicembre 1967, e sopravvisse alla moglie Patricia (nata Dawes) ed al figlio Wakeham.
Una mostra retrospettiva delle sue opere si è svolta al Montreal Museum of Fine Arts nel 1969.