The Skating Rink, Quebec [La patinoire, Québec]

What winter activities do you enjoy? This drawing of a skating rink was likely a sketch for one of Robert Pilot’s oil paintings, a subject matter the artist often revisited in his later years. Born in St. John’s, Newfoundland in 1898, Pilot was known for his oil paintings of Canadian landscapes and cityscapes. His interest in art began at a very young age, inspired by his stepfather Maurice Cullen, who Pilot helped in his studio. A talented painter who frequently depicted scenes of Quebec, Pilot exhibited work alongside the Group of Seven in their first show and later served as the president of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts.