Robert Hyndman
Robert S. Hyndman (1915–2009) was a master portraitist and official Canadian war artist. Trained at Toronto Central Technical School and the Central School of Arts and Crafts, London, he combined rigorous draftsmanship with a striking use of light and contrast. His service as a Spitfire pilot in WWII led to his appointment as a war artist, producing enduring portraits of Canada’s military and civic leaders. Over six decades, his work captured the vitality of his sitters and is held in private and corporate collections worldwide.Robert S. Hyndman (1915–2009) was one of Canada’s most accomplished portraitists, renowned for his ability to capture both the likeness and vitality of his sitters. Born in Edmonton, he studied at Toronto Central Technical School under Charles Goldhammer and Carl Schaefer, later continuing at the Central School of Arts and Crafts in London. His early career as an illustrator in Europe was interrupted by the Second World War, during which he flew Spitfires with the Royal Canadian Air Force. In 1944 he was appointed an official war artist, a role that allowed him to merge his military service with his artistic passion. Though his war art established his reputation, portraiture became his true strength, distinguished by dramatic contrasts of light and shadow that conveyed presence, immediacy, and psychological depth.
Over more than six decades, Hyndman painted an extraordinary range of sitters—from civic leaders and judges to cultural figures, business leaders, and private patrons. His canvases are marked by an economy of gesture and a painterly intensity that emphasizes movement and vitality, reflecting his deep fascination with human form and character. Hyndman’s portraits balance academic draftsmanship with expressive colour and atmosphere, situating him within the lineage of 20th-century Canadian portraiture while also demonstrating a distinctly modern sensibility. His work continues to resonate for its authority and humanity, and is represented in both private and corporate collections worldwide.
