Photo credit: Tim Doherty
Robert Norman Hudspeth (1862-1943) was born in Caledonia, Ontario. As a young man, he studied Theology at Trinity in Toronto, but was never ordained.
Bishop’s Principal Adams appointed him as a lecturer in Natural Sciences and then, three years later, he was appointed lecturer in Physics and Chemistry.
Mr. Hudspeth organized the Choral Society in Lennoxville as well as directing the Lyric Club at Bishop’s. For a time he was the organist at St. George’s Church and his name appears on many musical programs as a cello soloist or with a string ensemble.
In 1895, Mr. Hudspeth took two years off to study art and sculpture in Paris. He was a member of the Ontario Society of Art and exhibited at the Toronto Industrial Exhibition at the turn of the century. He was primarily known for his portraits, landscapes and miniatures. Mr. Hudspeth’s interest in art included making Kilnburn Pottery, of which a number of pieces were shown at the exhibition of the Royal Canadian Art Association in Montreal in 1909.
In 1909, he moved to Concord, Massachusetts, where he continued to teach and pursue his career in art. Before he left Lennoxville, he did this portrait of The Reverend Archibald Campbell Scarth, Rector of St. George’s Anglican Church and presented it to the church.
He died in 1943 at the age of 81.
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BUArtColl
Reverend Archibald Campbell Scarth came to Lennoxville in 1859 as Assistant Minister to the Reverend Lucius Doolittle who was incumbent at St. George's Anglican Church. On the death of Mr. Doolittle in 1862, Canon (later Archdeacon) Scarth became rector of the parish which he served for 45 years. Source: Recent Acquistion of Art Collection by Christine Ljunkull and Janet Motyer October 1993.
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St. George's Parish, Lennoxville, Qc.
This oil portrait of The Reverend Archibald Campbell Scarth, Rector of St. George's Anglican Church, Lennoxville, (1862-1904) and Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Bishop's College, painted by Robert Norman Hudspeth (1862-1943), was originally presented by the artist on December 12, 1899, to the congregation of St. George's Church. It was to be hung in the newly finished Parish Hall where it remained for many years. In 1993, the portrait was given by Reverend Keith Dickerson, Rector of St. George's Church, with the permission of A. Bruce Stavert, 11th Bishop of Quebec, to Bishop's University on "indefinite, continuous and eternal loan". (excerpted from notes by Christine Ljungkkull and Janet Motyer, 1993)
On long term loan to Bishop's University from St. George's Parish, Lennoxville.