Prudence Heward

1896-1947

Canadian Artist

Heward was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada into a well-to-do family. At a young age, she showed an interest in art and, encouraged by her family, she attended the Art Association of Montreal school for training. During World War I, Heward lived in England where her brothers served in the Canadian army while she served as a volunteer with the Red Cross. Returning to Canada at war's end, she continued her painting and joined the Beaver Hall Hill Group. In 1924 her works were given their first public showing at the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in Toronto, Ontario. Wanting to refine her skills, and drawn to the great gathering of creative genius in the Montparnasse Quarter of Paris, France, between 1925 and 1926 Prudence Heward lived and painted in Paris. Heward is most recognized for her portraits that provide compelling representations of women and children including the five nude subjects she painted of which four were black women.