Kane, Paul (1810-1871), was the first artist to paint an extensive record of the life of First Nations people in western Canada. From 1841 to 1845, he studied art in Europe. While in England, Kane was inspired by pictures of Native Americans painted by the American artist George Catlin. With financial support from the Hudson’s Bay Company, Kane traveled across Canada, sketching and painting First Nations people and life among Indigenous (native) peoples.
In 1855, Kane completed a cycle of 100 paintings. These paintings were donated to the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. Kane also published an illustrated book, Wanderings of an Artist Among the Indians of North America (1859).
Kane was born on Sept. 3, 1810, in County Cork, Ireland. He came to York (now Toronto) about 1819. He died on Feb. 20, 1871.
