Emily Coonan

Emily Coonan (25 March 1885 – 23 June 1971)[1] was a Canadian impressionist and post-impressionist painter, born in the Pointe-Saint-Charles area of Montreal.

[5] Her first award-winning piece, Eva and Daisy (1907), was a figure study of the Coonan sisters, which won her first place in the annual Art Association of Montreal student show of 1907.

[8] In 1913, the National Gallery of Canada awarded her with their first travelling bursary, which was a prize that was given to the art student that exemplified the most potential to study and practice in Europe.

[11] Coonan gained international acclaim as her piece Girl in Dotted Dress (1923) was selected to show in the British Empire Exhibition in England.

Due to harsh criticism for her progressive style and the death of Brymner, her mentor, and then her father, Coonan painted only for her family and friends for the remainder of her life.