Nicholas Hornyanski

 Nicholas Hornyansky (August 11, 1896 – May 25, 1965) was a Canadian-Hungarian artist renowned for his vibrant and realistic depictions of historic architecture and landscapes. Born in Budapest, Hungary, Hornyansky began his artistic journey mixing colours at his father's printing office. He studied painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Budapest and pursued postgraduate studies in Vienna, Munich, Antwerp, and Paris, where he honed his skills as a landscape painter, portrait artist, and engraver.

In the 1920s, Hornyansky learned the complex process of aquatinting, which became a significant aspect of his work. After marrying cellist Joyce Sands in 1927, he moved to Toronto, Canada in 1929. Despite the challenges of the Great Depression, Hornyansky found success, traveling extensively across Canada and creating intricate pencil and ink drawings, which served as the basis for his acclaimed etchings and aquatints. His versatile work in watercolour, ink, and gouache captured the essence of Canadian landscapes and architectural landmarks.

Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Hornyansky gained widespread recognition, participating in the Spring Salons of the Art Association of Montreal and exhibiting regularly in Toronto, major American cities, and Europe. His engraving "Closing Time" became the first Canadian engraving to join the permanent collection of prints at the Library of Congress in the United States.

Hornyansky was an esteemed member of several artistic societies, including the Royal Canadian Academy, the Ontario Society of Artists, and the Society of Canadian Etchers & Engravers. He taught metal plate media at the Ontario College of Art from 1945 to 1958, influencing many aspiring artists. Recognized as the most renowned aquatint artist in Canadian art history, his works are held in prestigious collections such as the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto and the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa.