The Riverbrink Art Museum features 19th Century art, especially from around the Niagara Peninsula. The museum is located a short distance from the Laura Secord Legacy Trail, just outside of Centennial Gardens, St. Catharines. The museum frequently has exhibits featuring different events that occurred during the War of 1812.
The Riverbrink Art Museum was constructed in 1943 by Samuel E. Weir. The museum overlooks the Niagara River in Queenston, featuring 19th century art and an extensive library and archives. The collection includes over 1400 works of art, including paintings, works on paper, sculptures and decorative arts by Canadian, American and European artists. Canadian art forms the largest part of the collection. In addition events and exhibits are displayed periodically featuring art pieces from within the museum and on loan from other museums and private collectors. An arts reference library also found in the museum contains unique resources, collections of rare books, maps and historical documents.
One of the collections, from which pieces have been taken and featured as exhibits several times is the War of 1812-14 Collection. Images from the permanent Riverbank collection depict different events that occurred during the war, with special emphasis on the Battle of the Thames and the death of Shawnee Warrior Tecumseh in 1813. This battle was of particular interest to founder and collector Samuel Wier since it occurred near his birthplace in London, Ontario. Other pieces of art show scenes from battles and other events that occurred in the Niagara Region.
Some items of note are the large collection of sculptures by Canadian artist Marc-Aurele de Foy Suzor-Cote (1869-1937) and art by English artist Augustus John (1878-1961). The museum also has a large collection of decorative arts including Engish and Quebec silver, clocks, antique furniture, Indian medals, coins, rugs and ceramics. The library contains over 500 rare and limited edition books and at least 4000 arts reference books. Exhibitions are changed annually with items from both Samuel Weir's and the Riverbrink collections as well as artwork on loan from other Canadian and International sources.
From Toronto:
1. Take the Queen Elizabeth Way, follow signs for Niagara/East Hamilton/Fort Erie
2. Drive 56.1 km then take the Regional Road 48/Niagara Street exit
3. Turn right onto Niagara St/Regional Rd 48
4. After 1.1 km turn left onto Church St
5. Continue onto Queenston St
Destination will be on your right
From Niagara:
1. Take the QEW north toward Toronto.
2. Take the exit toward Regional Road 48/Niagara Street/Regional Road 77/Welland Avenue
3. After 240 m merge onto Dieppe Rd
4. Make a slight left onto Welland Ave/Regional Rd 77
5. After 600 m turn left onto Vine St S
6. Turn right onto Queenston St
Destination will be on the left
Founder and art collector Samuel E. Weir was born in London, Ontario in 1898. He practiced law in his early years and was elected to several societies including positions in a King's Counsel in 1936, a bencher of the Law Society of Upper Canada in 1950 and a Life Bencher in 1965. Weir began collecting pieces of art, purchasing his first piece, a watercolor by English artist Dame Laura Knight in the early 1920s followed by The Lothian Hills by Homer Watson, an impressionist style painting. He continued to purchase paintings, drawings and other pieces of art throughout his lifetime, especially after having retired in 1970. Back in 1943 Weir purchased the property on Queenston St, intending to start a small dairy farm, however these plans changed and the property remained more of a country residence.
The main building was designed by English-born architect Arthur E. Nutter, a family friend and the first architect to practice in London, Ontario. The house is an adapted Georgina style, complete with gabled windows and a mansard roof. The interior of the museum still has its original wood paneling and much of the original structure.
When he passed away in 1981, Samuel Weir left his collection and the estate to the Weir Foundation, incorporated in 1962, intending the pieces and property to be maintained as a museum, gallery and library for the general public.
The RiverBrink Art Museum features artwork by Canadian, European and U.S. American artists. Art from some of Canada's most significant artists can be found including Tom Thomson, Emily Carr, the Group of Seven, (Frederick Varley, Lawren Harris, A.Y Jackson, Arthur Lismer, J.E.H MacDonald), Cornelius Krieghoff, Paul Kane, and Marc Aurèle de Foy Suzor-Côté. The collection also contains art work by European artists Augustus John, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Pierre August Renoir, Paul Cezanne, and Hilaire-Germain-Edgar Degas, among others.
There are many depictions of the Niagara Peninsula, particularly around Niagara Falls – among the collections. Wier was interested in local artwork and was able to acquire a number of valuable pieces, pieces that have helped to widen our understanding of an important period in Niagara and Canadian history.
$5.00 for Adults, $4.00 for seniors/students, free admission 12 and under. Note: Group rates are available Free parking on-site
116 Queenston St, Queenston
Queenston, Ontario
L0S 1L0 Municipality Niagara on the Lake
| Latitude: | 43.170287 |
| Longitude: | -79.057363 |
Riverbrink Art Museum
Regional Rd 1
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
L0S 1J0
Tel 905-262-4510
Fax 905-262-4477
Accessible
TripClips
Call before visiting