Alan Caswell Collier, 1911 – 1990
Born in Toronto, Ontario, Canadian artist Alan Caswell Collier expressed an early interest in art. He attended the Ontario College of Art where he studied under J.E.H. MacDonald, Franklin Carmichael and others from 1929 to 1933.
His ‘Emerald Lake’ can be seen as a result of his travels to western Canada, and the rich associations that Sabiston writes about are epitomized in it. The unique colour of water as can only be seen in high alpine lakes is reflected by that great peak rising majestically behind, the lake perimeter populated by evergreen trees. This is precisely the view that has come to identify the Canadian Rockies as such a great inspiration for artists, and a popular attraction for visitors, continuing to this day.