diff --git a/doc/users/whats_new.rst b/doc/users/whats_new.rst
index 0f7cb58e30f0..afee7551a091 100644
--- a/doc/users/whats_new.rst
+++ b/doc/users/whats_new.rst
@@ -41,17 +41,6 @@ Features that depend on the Python Imaging Library, such as JPEG
 handling, do not work, since the version of PIL for Python 3.x is not
 sufficiently mature.
 
-Object-oriented interface
--------------------------
-
-Damon McDougall has reduced some of the boilerplate code needed to interact
-with the object-oriented interface. Now a figure canvas is set up by default::
-
-    >>> from matplotlib.figure import Figure
-    >>> fig = Figure()
-    >>> ax = fig.add_subplot(1, 1, 1)
-    >>> fig.savefig('figure.pdf')
-
 PGF/TikZ backend
 ----------------
 Peter Würtz wrote a backend that allows matplotlib to export figures as
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_agg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_agg.py
index 9760336b5bf8..e221989a6dbd 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_agg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_agg.py
@@ -515,5 +515,3 @@ def print_to_buffer(self):
                   (int(renderer.width), int(renderer.height)))
         renderer.dpi = original_dpi
         return result
-
-FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasAgg
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cairo.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cairo.py
index 00471f0398c1..966e618fa408 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cairo.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cairo.py
@@ -512,5 +512,3 @@ def _save (self, fo, format, **kwargs):
 
         ctx.show_page()
         surface.finish()
-
-FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasCairo
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cocoaagg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cocoaagg.py
index dd4142404e8c..5c9c04938874 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cocoaagg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cocoaagg.py
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ def stop_event_loop(self):
         FigureCanvasBase.stop_event_loop_default(self)
     stop_event_loop.__doc__=FigureCanvasBase.stop_event_loop_default.__doc__
 
-FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasCocoaAgg
+
 
 NibClassBuilder.extractClasses('Matplotlib.nib', mplBundle)
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_emf.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_emf.py
index 7a289b79829b..50da4fea706f 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_emf.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_emf.py
@@ -727,8 +727,6 @@ def print_emf(self, filename, dpi=300, **kwargs):
     def get_default_filetype(self):
         return 'emf'
 
-FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasEMF
-
 class FigureManagerEMF(FigureManagerBase):
     """
     Wrap everything up into a window for the pylab interface
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_fltkagg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_fltkagg.py
index a8215e4aa2cf..52d4bd3b1efd 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_fltkagg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_fltkagg.py
@@ -231,8 +231,6 @@ def stop_event_loop(self):
         FigureCanvasBase.stop_event_loop_default(self)
     stop_event_loop.__doc__=FigureCanvasBase.stop_event_loop_default.__doc__
 
-FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasFltkAgg
-
 def destroy_figure(ptr, figman):
     figman.window.hide()
     Fltk.Fl.wait(0)         # This is needed to make the last figure vanish.
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gdk.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gdk.py
index 556fea2c16a2..c0790c6591bb 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gdk.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gdk.py
@@ -434,7 +434,7 @@ def new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, figure):
     return manager
 
 
-class FigureCanvasGDK(FigureCanvasBase):
+class FigureCanvasGDK (FigureCanvasBase):
     def __init__(self, figure):
         FigureCanvasBase.__init__(self, figure)
 
@@ -472,5 +472,3 @@ def _print_image(self, filename, format, *args, **kwargs):
                                  0, 0, 0, 0, width, height)
 
         pixbuf.save(filename, format)
-
-FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasGDK
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk.py
index 87ac0398a525..760404d83e4e 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk.py
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ def _on_timer(self):
             return False
 
 
-class FigureCanvasGTK(gtk.DrawingArea, FigureCanvasBase):
+class FigureCanvasGTK (gtk.DrawingArea, FigureCanvasBase):
     keyvald = {65507 : 'control',
                65505 : 'shift',
                65513 : 'alt',
@@ -519,8 +519,6 @@ def stop_event_loop(self):
         FigureCanvasBase.stop_event_loop_default(self)
     stop_event_loop.__doc__=FigureCanvasBase.stop_event_loop_default.__doc__
 
-FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasGTK
-
 class FigureManagerGTK(FigureManagerBase):
     """
     Public attributes
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py
index 3c65bc3f7c36..30597dfdd6ed 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ def _on_timer(self):
             self._timer = None
             return False
 
-class FigureCanvasGTK3(Gtk.DrawingArea, FigureCanvasBase):
+class FigureCanvasGTK3 (Gtk.DrawingArea, FigureCanvasBase):
     keyvald = {65507 : 'control',
                65505 : 'shift',
                65513 : 'alt',
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3agg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3agg.py
index 44e4516bd1c6..c05e0266631a 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3agg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3agg.py
@@ -67,7 +67,6 @@ def print_png(self, filename, *args, **kwargs):
         agg = self.switch_backends(backend_agg.FigureCanvasAgg)
         return agg.print_png(filename, *args, **kwargs)
 
-FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasGTK3Agg
 
 class FigureManagerGTK3Agg(backend_gtk3.FigureManagerGTK3):
     pass
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3cairo.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3cairo.py
index b2fef69e7289..2b1fefc04d4b 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3cairo.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3cairo.py
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ def on_draw_event(self, widget, ctx):
 
         return False  # finish event propagation?
 
-FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasGTK3Cairo
 
 class FigureManagerGTK3Cairo(backend_gtk3.FigureManagerGTK3):
     pass
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtkagg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtkagg.py
index c6ad67640417..cdd0bbae8723 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtkagg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtkagg.py
@@ -111,7 +111,6 @@ def print_png(self, filename, *args, **kwargs):
         agg = self.switch_backends(FigureCanvasAgg)
         return agg.print_png(filename, *args, **kwargs)
 
-FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasGTKAgg
 
 """\
 Traceback (most recent call last):
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtkcairo.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtkcairo.py
index d57734646bf0..2cd41ba720eb 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtkcairo.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtkcairo.py
@@ -55,7 +55,6 @@ def _renderer_init(self):
         if _debug: print('%s.%s()' % (self.__class__.__name__, _fn_name()))
         self._renderer = RendererGTKCairo (self.figure.dpi)
 
-FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasGTKCairo
 
 class FigureManagerGTKCairo(FigureManagerGTK):
     def _get_toolbar(self, canvas):
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py
index 9f64f967aec9..73dffb83b9ec 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py
@@ -352,7 +352,6 @@ def new_timer(self, *args, **kwargs):
         """
         return TimerMac(*args, **kwargs)
 
-FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasMac
 
 class FigureManagerMac(_macosx.FigureManager, FigureManagerBase):
     """
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pdf.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pdf.py
index 3211a2eb80d4..06f9b1d30156 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pdf.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pdf.py
@@ -2299,8 +2299,6 @@ def print_pdf(self, filename, **kwargs):
             else:            # we opened the file above; now finish it off
                 file.close()
 
-FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasPdf
-
 class FigureManagerPdf(FigureManagerBase):
     pass
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pgf.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pgf.py
index 8cee93a32236..efdc7b340edc 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pgf.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pgf.py
@@ -838,8 +838,6 @@ def _render_texts_pgf(self, fh):
     def get_renderer(self):
         return RendererPgf(self.figure, None)
 
-FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasPgf
-
 class FigureManagerPgf(FigureManagerBase):
     def __init__(self, *args):
         FigureManagerBase.__init__(self, *args)
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_ps.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_ps.py
index cc0420deffdc..5a0d9ead019d 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_ps.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_ps.py
@@ -1357,8 +1357,6 @@ def write(self, *kl, **kwargs):
             shutil.move(tmpfile, outfile)
             os.chmod(outfile, mode)
 
-FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasPS
-
 def convert_psfrags(tmpfile, psfrags, font_preamble, custom_preamble,
                     paperWidth, paperHeight, orientation):
     """
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt.py
index 8ea2c048d2cd..38c5705de35c 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt.py
@@ -203,8 +203,6 @@ def stop_event_loop(self):
         FigureCanvasBase.stop_event_loop_default(self)
     stop_event_loop.__doc__=FigureCanvasBase.stop_event_loop_default.__doc__
 
-FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasQT
-
 class FigureManagerQT( FigureManagerBase ):
     """
     Public attributes
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py
index 0ff9a69d2a28..6c22bbb92e25 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py
@@ -377,8 +377,6 @@ def idle_draw(*args):
             self._idle = True
         if d: QtCore.QTimer.singleShot(0, idle_draw)
 
-FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasQT
-
 class FigureManagerQT( FigureManagerBase ):
     """
     Public attributes
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4agg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4agg.py
index ddba18fcd527..07017818e853 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4agg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4agg.py
@@ -145,5 +145,3 @@ def blit(self, bbox=None):
     def print_figure(self, *args, **kwargs):
         FigureCanvasAgg.print_figure(self, *args, **kwargs)
         self.draw()
-
-FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasQTAgg
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qtagg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qtagg.py
index 61fc731fd733..91a9cd47133e 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qtagg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qtagg.py
@@ -156,5 +156,3 @@ def blit(self, bbox=None):
     def print_figure(self, *args, **kwargs):
         FigureCanvasAgg.print_figure(self, *args, **kwargs)
         self.draw()
-
-FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasQTAgg
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_svg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_svg.py
index c02287a15c43..e57ebcde69c4 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_svg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_svg.py
@@ -1143,8 +1143,6 @@ def _print_svg(self, filename, svgwriter, fh_to_close=None, **kwargs):
     def get_default_filetype(self):
         return 'svg'
 
-FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasSVG
-
 class FigureManagerSVG(FigureManagerBase):
     pass
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_template.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_template.py
index eaf21c08e78f..ae7f01088e9c 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_template.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_template.py
@@ -245,8 +245,6 @@ def print_foo(self, filename, *args, **kwargs):
     def get_default_filetype(self):
         return 'foo'
 
-FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasTemplate
-
 class FigureManagerTemplate(FigureManagerBase):
     """
     Wrap everything up into a window for the pylab interface
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_tkagg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_tkagg.py
index 53d86f81cf87..92198928d25f 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_tkagg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_tkagg.py
@@ -505,8 +505,6 @@ def stop_event_loop(self):
         FigureCanvasBase.stop_event_loop_default(self)
     stop_event_loop.__doc__=FigureCanvasBase.stop_event_loop_default.__doc__
 
-FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasTkAgg
-
 class FigureManagerTkAgg(FigureManagerBase):
     """
     Public attributes
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py
index 628025362728..b58433f53d53 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py
@@ -1400,7 +1400,6 @@ def _onEnter(self, evt):
         """Mouse has entered the window."""
         FigureCanvasBase.enter_notify_event(self, guiEvent = evt)
 
-FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasWx
 
 ########################################################################
 #
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wxagg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wxagg.py
index c10b0ee5d19a..5b301a045f04 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wxagg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wxagg.py
@@ -105,8 +105,6 @@ def print_figure(self, filename, *args, **kwargs):
         if self._isDrawn:
             self.draw()
 
-FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasWxAgg
-
 class NavigationToolbar2WxAgg(NavigationToolbar2Wx):
     def get_canvas(self, frame, fig):
         return FigureCanvasWxAgg(frame, -1, fig)
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/figure.py b/lib/matplotlib/figure.py
index be4c5fb5aa45..798cd661fc1e 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/figure.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/figure.py
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ def __init__(self,
         self.patch.set_aa(False)
 
         self._hold = rcParams['axes.hold']
-        self.canvas = self._setup_canvas()
+        self.canvas = None
 
         if subplotpars is None:
             subplotpars = SubplotParams()
@@ -330,14 +330,6 @@ def __init__(self,
         self.clf()
         self._cachedRenderer = None
 
-    def _setup_canvas(self):
-        """
-        Return the FigureCanvas instance defined by the currently loaded backend.
-        """
-        import matplotlib.backends as mbackends  # lazy import
-        backend_mod = mbackends.pylab_setup()[0]
-        return backend_mod.FigureCanvas(self)
-
     def show(self, warn=True):
         """
         If using a GUI backend with pyplot, display the figure window.