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Fonds includes a notebook used by Lucius O’Brien to record sales of his paintings year by year between 1882 and 1895, including names of purchasers and prices paid, both privately and at exhibitions.
Fonds also includes a sketchbook containing a visual diary of the artist’s travels in the Gaspé region of Quebec in August-October 1882, followed by a journey to the south of England, via New York City, in June-October 1883.

Sketchbook contains a visual diary of the artist’s travels in the Gaspé region of Quebec in August-October 1882, followed by a journey to the south of England, via New York City, in June-October 1883. In keeping with O’Brien’s métier as a landscape painter, most of the drawings are scenic in nature, but the volume also contains closely observed details of boats, fisherfolk, and animals encountered in his travels, particularly the sheep and Dartmoor ponies of the Devon countryside. The sketchbook dates from a period of significant activity and achievement in the artist’s career, when he was newly appointed the art editor of Picturesque Canada and responsible for creating or commissioning illustrations for this highly prestigious publishing project. His travels were integrally related to his practice as a landscape artist.
Tucked inside the front cover of the sketchbook is an invitation card for the artist’s Saturday afternoon studio open houses held in the fall/winter of 1882. The card features a printed rendition of O’Brien’s drawing of an English Tudor-style gable from a page in the sketchbook. It was designed by Toronto commercial artist and calligrapher A.H. Howard.

Item is a blankbook bound in morocco leather, stamped on the spine and cover “STUDIO JOURNAL / L. R. O’Brien / 1882.” The book was used by Lucius O’Brien to record sales of his paintings year by year between 1882 and 1895, including names of purchasers and prices paid, both privately and at exhibitions. Notes in the journal also include income from art lessons. Beginning at the back of the journal on inverted pages (p. 94–[126]) are checklists of names of members of the Ontario Society of Artists and their addresses; with household and other notes.
Extracts from catalogues of art dealers and exhibitors and other material pasted into the journal include items from the Art Association of Montreal; Jno. B. Hall, M.D., Toronto; Thomas McLean’s Gallery in Haymarket, London; Matthews Brothers, Toronto; Dolman & Son Picture Frame Makers &c., London; W. Scott & Sons, Montreal; and the Palette Club, Toronto. Some leaves of pasted items have become detached.
Enclosures (loose) consist of a drawing of a sailing vessel, signed by the artist and dated 1882 (1 leaf); and a letter (1883) from J. Nathan, Burlington Gallery, London (1 leaf).