Maxwell Bennett Bates, “Prairie Woman,” 1947, oil on , paper on board, 26" x 19 3/4" (sold at Heffel Fine Art for $28,125)
Two of Calgary’s most renowned and respected artists have found renewed interest thanks to the exhibitions of private collections being offered for sale.
The Heffel team presented Extraordinary Eye, The Maxwell Bates collection at their gallery in Calgary for viewing and online auction on Jan. 30.
Loch Gallery in Calgary opened Through Brush & Spirit, The Legacy of Illingworth “Buck” Kerr, on Feb. 1.
The two sales saw excellent results for both artists.
Heffel, online
All of the listed works have been exhibited in major exhibitions of Bates over the years, and are included in important catalogues of retrospectives and in his biography. Although values and interest in the artworks showed some strong sales, they deserved higher values as iconic works within Canadian art history. Overall, though, it was a fine sale.
Lot 301, Maxwell Bates, Prairie Woman, 1947, oil on board, 26" x 19 1/2". Estimate: $6,000/$8,000. Sold: $28,125. An iconic representation of life on the prairies, this painting is one of a kind in Canadian art history. Look at the determination represented by the woman, with the winds and huge landscape.
1 of 3
Maxwell Bennett Bates, “Clown,” 1959, oil on canvas, 32" x 26" (sold at Heffel Fine Art for $25,000)
2 of 3
Maxwell Bennett Bates, “Storm,” no date, oil on board, 24" x 30" (sold at Heffel Fine Art for $12,500)
3 of 3
Maxwell Bennett Bates, “United Empire Loyalist,” 1970, oil on canvas, 30" x 20" (sold at Heffel Fine Art for $23,750)
Lot 302, Maxwell Bates, Clown, 1969, oil on canvas, 32" x 26". Estimate: $4,000/$6,000. Sold: $25,000. Clowns were a favourite subject for Bates throughout his career. The images are as only he could imagine. The yellow table with blue vase accentuates the foreground.
Lot 303, Maxwell Bates, Storm, circa 1955, oil on board, 24" x 30". Estimate: $4,000/$6,000. Sold: $12,500. Strong and powerful, this landscape is wonderful to see. The provenance is extensive; it is included in Nancy Townsend’s book, Maxwell Bates, Landscapes 1948 -1978 as well as Kathleen Snow’s biography of the artist from 1993.
Lot 304, Maxwell Bates, United Empire Loyalist, 1970, oil on canvas, 30" x 20". Estimate: $3,000/$5,000. Sold: $23,750. A prime portrait of his good friend Pat Martin Bates, this caught the attention of many at the preview. Although subtle in colour, it is beautiful.
Maxwell Bennett Bates, “History of Alberta,” (Sketch for Calgary Airport Mural), 1957, watercolour on paper, 10" x 19 3/4" (sold at Heffel Fine Art for $15,000)
Lot 314, Maxwell Bates, History of Alberta, 1947, sketch for Calgary Airport mural, watercolour on paper, 10" x 19 ¾". Estimate: $2,500/$3.500. Sold: $15,000. A missed opportunity by the then-airport art committee, this small sketch had such a wonderful conception of Alberta and would have withstood the test of time. Bidding was frantic on this small work, which obviously achieved a strong value.
Bates died in Victoria, British Columbia, in 1980, at the age of 73.
Loch Gallery sale and exhibition
This collection of works by Illingworth Kerr comes primarily from one collector and represent his career through the decades. Within the exhibition are paintings loaned by collectors, some dating back to the 1920s. There is no doubt he was a standout character within the Calgary art community, but he was also one of the most ingenious original landscape painters in Canadian art history.
Illingworth “Buck” Kerr, Ranch South of Priddis, Alberta, 1974, acrylic on linen, 54¼" x 72 ½". (sold at Loch Gallery for $28,000)
Illingworth “Buck” Kerr, Ranch South of Priddis, Alberta, 1974, acrylic on linen, 54¼" x 72 ½". Sold: $28,000. A stunning painting from Buck’s favourite world south of Calgary in the Foothills ranch country of Alberta. Everything about this artwork is “Kerr” including his original colours and great perspective of the land.
1 of 3
Illingworth “Buck” Kerr, “Turner Valley Hills,” 1970, oil on burlap, 30" x 36". (sold at Loch Gallery for $15,000)
2 of 3
Illingworth “Buck” Kerr, “Grey Day, Mid-September, Qu’Appelle Valley,” circa 1976, oil on linen, 20" x 36". (estimated at Loch Gallery for $14,000)
3 of 3
Illingworth “Buck” Kerr, “Creek West of Millarville,” 1975, oil on linen, 18" x 24". (estimated at Loch Gallery for $12,000)
Illingworth “Buck” Kerr, Turner Valley Hills, 1970, oil on burlap, 30" x 36". Sold: $15,000. This painting again features his world, Turner Valley, where he would park his van to create sketches. Then back at the studio, he would paint. The abstraction of the land, with soft hues of colour, unfolds.
Illingworth “Buck” Kerr, Grey Day, Mid-September, Qu’Appelle Valley, circa 1976, oil on linen, 20" x 36". Est. $14,000. Returning to his homeland, Lumsden, Sask., Kerr would always find his way to the Qu’Appelle Valley. He knew every hill, pond and stream. Again, we see his one-of-a-kind use of colour throughout, with a strong active brush.
Illingworth “Buck” Kerr, Creek West of Millarville, 1975, oil on linen, 18" x 24". $12,000. From the foreground to the hills, this painting is alive with a strong brush and colour; the buildings and aspens stand out. It is possible this could be a plein-air painting done from his parking spot.
Illingworth “Buck” Kerr, “Foothill Road, Winter Night,” 1974, oil on linen, 18" x 24". (sold at Loch Gallery for$18,000)
Illingworth “Buck” Kerr, Foothill Road, Winter Night, 1974, oil on linen, 18" x 24". Sold: $18,000. Kerr’s Nocturne paintings have always stood out; this one is full of life.
Kerr died in Calgary on Jan. 6, 1989 at the age of 83. ■
PS: Worried you missed something? See previous Galleries West stories here or sign up for our free biweekly newsletter.
