Frank Hennessey

Frank Charles Hennessey was born in Ottawa, Ontario in 1894, displaying artistic talent at an early age with his nature study drawings appearing in "The Ottawa Journal" when he was just six years old. At 14, he accompanied Captain J.E. Bernier on an Arctic expedition as assistant naturalist and artist, where he collected fauna and flora specimens that were later preserved in the National Museum. He continued his education at St. Patrick's School, Ottawa Collegiate, and later graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Albion College in Michigan.

From 1913 to 1915, Hennessey worked with the Geological Survey of Canada, producing illustrations for P.A. Taverner's "Birds of Eastern Canada," which became a standard text in schools. He later illustrated "Birds of Canada" and "Birds of Western Canada," also by Taverner. After serving as an inspector of explosives with the Imperial Munitions Board (1915-1917), he joined the entomology division of the Department of Agriculture in 1921, where he remained until his death.

Hennessey gained recognition for his landscape paintings, particularly winter scenes, which were noted for their luminous qualities and masterful depiction of snow and shadows. His painting "The Loon," executed in blue, grey, and orange with exceptional luminous effects, was exhibited at the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley in 1925 and was subsequently purchased by the Sheffield Art Gallery. He was elected to the Ontario Society of Artists in 1932, became an Associate of the Royal Canadian Academy in 1934, and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (London) in 1938.

Despite working as a government illustrator creating precise technical drawings, Hennessey was known for his ability to shift to a broader, looser style in his artistic work, particularly in his pastel landscapes. He was part of the "Ottawa Group," which aimed to be Ottawa's equivalent to Toronto's Group of Seven, and exhibited at Hart House in Toronto in 1924. Tragically, Hennessey died at the age of 47 in November 1941, coinciding with his appointment to full membership in the Royal Canadian Academy. His work can be found in numerous institutions including the National Gallery of Canada, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and the Museum of the Province of Quebec.