A.J. Casson youngest member of the Group of Seven

On my fall walk with paintbrush in hand, I discovered the grave of Alfred Joseph Casson at a quiet cemetery near the entrance of the McMichael Gallery in Kleinburg, Ontario.

Born in Toronto, A.J. Casson left school at just fifteen to apprentice at a lithography company, honing his artistic skills by attending night classes at Toronto’s Central Technical School.

In 1917, he held his first art exhibit at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE). Soon after, he was hired by the prominent graphic design firm Rous and Mann, which, before the formation of the Group of Seven, employed three future members: F.H. Varley, Franklin Carmichael, and Casson himself.

Casson’s artistic career took a pivotal turn in 1926 when his friend and former colleague Franklin Carmichael invited him to join the Group of Seven, replacing Frank (Franz) Johnston.

Franklin Carmichael

As the youngest member, Casson became best known for his clear colours, clean designs, and a focus on the landscapes, forests, and farms of Southern Ontario—capturing the quiet beauty of Canada’s rural heart.

A humble and reserved painter, Alfred Joseph Casson passed away in Toronto on February 20, 1992, at the age of 93. His wife, Margaret, is laid to rest alongside him.

The painting in the feature collage is part of R. W. Crawford’s Canadian collection representing one of A.J. Casson’s earlier works.