Douglas Moerdyke Duncan

Duncan, Douglas Moerdyke

Duncan, Douglas Moerdyke, art dealer (b at Kalamazoo, Mich 1902; d at Toronto 26 June 1968). Educated at the University of Toronto, Duncan lived in Paris 1925-28 where he studied fine bookbinding. He returned to Toronto in 1928 to establish himself as a bookbinder, earning a reputation as a skilled craftsman. He founded the Picture Loan Society in 1936 with others and became sole sponsor and director, a position he held until his death. During this time Duncan was responsible for the first exhibitions of many distinguished artists, among them Carl SCHAEFER, Will OGILVIE, and Kazuo NAKAMURA. Many artists left the Picture Loan Society because of its limited space and the difficulty of acquiring a financial accounting from Duncan. Nevertheless, he must be considered a significant force in the art market in the 1930s to 1950s, and as a confidant and adviser to the rich he was able to sustain the career of David MILNE, among others.