William Berczy
Encyclopedia
William Berczy was a German pioneer and painter.
Born in Swabia
, Germany as a son of the Wirklicher Hofrat Albrecht Theodor Moll and Johanna Josepha Walpurga Moll née Hefele, he was originally named Johann Albrecht Ulrich Moll, but later changed his name. He studied at the Akademie der bildenden Künste in Vienna and at the University of Jena in Saxony. His early career was spent in several European countries, including Italy (meeting with Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
in Florence
) and England, where he exhibited at the Royal Academy
. In 1792 he sailed for the Americas, setting up a business in York (now - since 1834 - Toronto
) a couple of years later. He also worked in Quebec
. Although best known for his portrait
s, he also carried out religious paintings and architectural work, including plans for Christ Church Cathedral in Montreal in 1803, and was a surveyor.
He married 1 Nov. 1785 Jeanne-Charlotte Berczy née Allamand (1760–1839) of Lausanne
(canton of Bern, now - since 1803 - canton of Vaud
), Switzerland. They had two sons, William Bent Berczy
and Charles Albert Berczy
.
Berczy helped John Graves Simcoe
establish a settlement north of Toronto
, which became the town of Markham, Ontario
.
His two best known pictures are a full-length portrait of the Mohawk
chief Thayendanegea (Joseph Brant
) (c. 1805) http://cybermuse.gallery.ca/cybermuse/search/artwork_e.jsp?mkey=3247 and a group portrait of the Woolsey Family (1809).
Berczy travelled to New York City
during the War of 1812
and was stranded when attempting to travel to England
. He died in the city and was buried at Trinity Church
.
in commemoration for the man who founded the city. It has over 800 students in grades K-8. Also, in honour for this founder, the Markham government named one of its densely populated neighbourhoods after him, which is called the Berczy Village
.
Born in Swabia
Swabia
Swabia is a cultural, historic and linguistic region in southwestern Germany.-Geography:Like many cultural regions of Europe, Swabia's borders are not clearly defined...
, Germany as a son of the Wirklicher Hofrat Albrecht Theodor Moll and Johanna Josepha Walpurga Moll née Hefele, he was originally named Johann Albrecht Ulrich Moll, but later changed his name. He studied at the Akademie der bildenden Künste in Vienna and at the University of Jena in Saxony. His early career was spent in several European countries, including Italy (meeting with Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer, pictorial artist, biologist, theoretical physicist, and polymath. He is considered the supreme genius of modern German literature. His works span the fields of poetry, drama, prose, philosophy, and science. His Faust has been called the greatest long...
in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
) and England, where he exhibited at the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
. In 1792 he sailed for the Americas, setting up a business in York (now - since 1834 - Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
) a couple of years later. He also worked in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. Although best known for his portrait
Portrait
thumb|250px|right|Portrait of [[Thomas Jefferson]] by [[Rembrandt Peale]], 1805. [[New-York Historical Society]].A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant. The intent is to display the likeness,...
s, he also carried out religious paintings and architectural work, including plans for Christ Church Cathedral in Montreal in 1803, and was a surveyor.
He married 1 Nov. 1785 Jeanne-Charlotte Berczy née Allamand (1760–1839) of Lausanne
Lausanne
Lausanne is a city in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and is the capital of the canton of Vaud. The seat of the district of Lausanne, the city is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva . It faces the French town of Évian-les-Bains, with the Jura mountains to its north-west...
(canton of Bern, now - since 1803 - canton of Vaud
Vaud
Vaud is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland and is located in Romandy, the French-speaking southwestern part of the country. The capital is Lausanne. The name of the Canton in Switzerland's other languages are Vaud in Italian , Waadt in German , and Vad in Romansh.-History:Along the lakes,...
), Switzerland. They had two sons, William Bent Berczy
William Bent Berczy
William Bent Berczy was a farmer, painter and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in London England in 1791, the son of William Berczy, and came to York with his family in 1794. He grew up in York, Montreal and Quebec City. He served in the Corps of Canadian Chasseurs during the War of...
and Charles Albert Berczy
Charles Albert Berczy
Charles Albert Berczy was the son of pioneer William Berczy.-Early years:Charles Albert was born in Newark, Upper Canada in 1794 to William and his wife Jeanne-Charlotte Allamand...
.
Berczy helped John Graves Simcoe
John Graves Simcoe
John Graves Simcoe was a British army officer and the first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada from 1791–1796. Then frontier, this was modern-day southern Ontario and the watersheds of Georgian Bay and Lake Superior...
establish a settlement north of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, which became the town of Markham, Ontario
Markham, Ontario
Markham is a town in the Regional Municipality of York, located within the Greater Toronto Area of Southern Ontario, Canada. The population was 261,573 at the 2006 Canadian census...
.
His two best known pictures are a full-length portrait of the Mohawk
Mohawk nation
Mohawk are the most easterly tribe of the Iroquois confederation. They call themselves Kanien'gehaga, people of the place of the flint...
chief Thayendanegea (Joseph Brant
Joseph Brant
Thayendanegea or Joseph Brant was a Mohawk military and political leader, based in present-day New York, who was closely associated with Great Britain during and after the American Revolution. He was perhaps the most well-known American Indian of his generation...
) (c. 1805) http://cybermuse.gallery.ca/cybermuse/search/artwork_e.jsp?mkey=3247 and a group portrait of the Woolsey Family (1809).
Berczy travelled to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
and was stranded when attempting to travel to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He died in the city and was buried at Trinity Church
Trinity Church Cemetery
Trinity Church Cemetery consists of three separate burial grounds associated with Trinity Church in Manhattan, New York, USA. The first was established in the Churchyard located at 74 Trinity Place at Wall Street and Broadway...
.
Structures and Communities named after him
There is an elementary school in northern Markham named William Berczy Public SchoolWilliam Berczy Public School
William Berczy Public School is a public elementary school in the town of Unionville, Ontario, Canada. It is a public school in the York Region District School Board. The school's name comes from William Berczy, who founded the town in which the school is located...
in commemoration for the man who founded the city. It has over 800 students in grades K-8. Also, in honour for this founder, the Markham government named one of its densely populated neighbourhoods after him, which is called the Berczy Village
Berczy Village, Ontario
Berczy Village is a residential community located in Markham, Ontario, Canada. It is bounded to the north by Major Mackenzie Drive, to the east by McCowan Road, to the south by 16th Avenue, and to the west by Kennedy Road. This area is part of Unionville, Ontario. The community is named after the...
.
Literature
- Ronald J. Stagg: Berczy, Williem [...]. In: Dictionary of Canadian Biography, Francess G. Halpenny, General Editor, vol. 5. 1801-1820. Toronto, Buffalo, London 1983, pp. 70–72.
- B[eate] Stock: Berczy, William (Johann Albrecht Ulrich Moll). In: (K[laus] G[erhard]) Saur [Publisher]: Allgemeines Künstler-Lexikon. Die Bildenden Künstler aller Zeiten und Völker, Bd. 9. München, Leipzig 1994, pp. 255–256.
- Hartmut Froeschle [Fröschle]: Adler auf dem Ahornbaum. Studien zur Einwanderung, Siedlung, Kultur-und Literaturgeschichte der Deutschen in Kanada. Herausgegeben und eingeleitet von Lothar Zimmermann. Toronto 1997 (Deutschkanadische Schriften, B. Sachbücher, Bd. 7), pp. 53–63: "Williem Berczy, ein deutschkanadischer Pionier".
- Hartmut Froeschle [Fröschle]: Berczy trifft Goethe. In: Deutschkanadisches Jahrbuch / German Canadian Yearbook 15 (1998), pp. 89–97.
External links
- Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
- The Story of Markham - William Moll Berczy
- German Pioneers of Toronto and Markham Township - The Story of William Berczy
- Article about Berczy Park in Toronto Star, Dec 22, 2008, giving more detail about his life: "Oasis amid skyscrapers has a magic of its own"