Gordon Nicholson Cope, 93, passed away June 10, 1999 in San Francisco, CA.
He was born May 14, 1906 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Mr. Cope began his formal Art education at LDS University in Salt Lake City and continued his studies with several renowned artists of Utah including Le Conte Stewart, A.B. Wright, Lawrence Squires, and J. Leo Fairbanks.As was the practice among promising young artists at and after the turn of the century, Gordon Cope traveled to Europe to study the works of the Masters. He spent much of his time in France, primarily in Moret and in Paris, where he studied at the Julien Academy in 1928. In the spring of the same year, at the age of 22, two of his paintings were shown at the Paris Salon.
Mr. Cope's interests lay in additional forms of art as well. While in Paris, he studied voice with the director of the Opera Comique. In Salt Lake City his name frequently appeared on programs of notable community musical events. He felt that music and painting are closely interrelated, and that the study of one form may be used to compliment the appreciation and understanding of the other.
Works and exhibits include: First one-man exhibition in Salt Lake City, Utah, 1923; Religious Murals, Belgian Churches, 1925; Two paintings show Paris Spring Salon, 1928; Purchase Award, Springville National, 1932; Official Portrait, Governer of Utah, 1933; Best Portrait Award, Denver Art Museum, 1934; Mural, American President Line, 1947; One-man Exhibition, Maxwell Galleries, 1967; "Group Exhibition, American Art Since 1850", Maxwell Galleries, 1968; Period Showing of individual paintings, Maxwell Galleries from 1960 to present.
Gordon will be remembered fondly and respectfully by his family: Lynn Hendrix, Margaret Mills, Elizabeth May, Connie Fransen and Nikki Wright and their children; by his sister, Alice Hilton and her family; by his close friends, Michael Palmer and Mark Hoffman; by his most treasured Elaine B. Evans, and by many friends and acquaintances for his encompassing humanity, quick wit, and charm. He leaves as his legacy an appreciation of beauty to be found in even the most common aspects of life and language, and humor in the most pretentious.
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