Fonds 1994-254 - C. Anthony Law

Charles Anthony "Tony" Law was born in London, England, on 15 October 1916, the son of Major Adrian Aloysius Sherwood and Maud (Andette) Law. Law was inspired and encouraged to study art by his grandfather Law, himself an artist, and family friend and noted anthropologist, Dr. Marius Barbeau. Law studied painting and drawing with Franklin Brownell, Fred Varley, Frank Hennessey and Percyval Tudor Hart. He married Jane Brumm in 1942. During the Second World War, Law served as an officer in the Canadian Navy. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. During 1943-1944, while his flotilla of Motor Torpedo Boats was being prepared, he was commissioned as an official war artist, an assignment which was confirmed by his appointment as an official naval war artist in 1945. Transferring to the permanent forces after the war, he traveled to the Arctic, and to the east and west coasts of Canada. He was known as "the painting Commander." Upon retirement, he became active in the art community of Nova Scotia, was artist-in-residence for Saint Mary's University between 1967 and 1980, and was the first curator of Saint Mary's University Art Gallery. In 1981 Law was made an honorary Doctor of Letters by Saint Mary's University. He died on 15 October 1996 at Williams Lake, Nova Scotia.