Alexander Colville, “Night Walk,” 1981
acrylic polymer emulsion on board, 18″ x 18″ (sold at Heffel for $901,250)
Canadian art auctions continue to be vital to the art ecosystem almost two years into the global pandemic, providing venues for the discovery of rare historical pieces, as well as support for modern and contemporary art.
The constraints of the pandemic have made it critically important to develop online platforms that work efficiently and provide confidence to bidders across Canada and beyond. When done well, their reach is notable. Although private previews were once again available this fall, the online component was key to sales.
Nell Mary Bradshaw, “An Old Chief,” no date
oil on wood board, 40″ x 23″ (sold at Levis for $10,530)
Levis Fine Art, Calgary
Levis had a live preview for their Nov. 7 online sale. The estate consignments were notable, and included some rare pieces. Two works from one Calgary estate provided incredible pieces of Canadian history. Nell Mary Bradshaw’s An Old Chief sold for $10,530, while William Brymner’s Gleichen, N.W.T., circa 1886, sold for $7,020.
Marc-Aurèle Fortin, “The Sandpile, Harbour Scene, Montreal (Le Pont Jacques Cartier en construction),” circa 1927
oil on canvas, 25.5″ x 35.5″ (sold at Levis for $76,050)
A brilliant piece by Marc-Aurèle Fortin, The Sandpile, Harbour Scene, Montreal, (Le Pont Jacques Cartier en construction), circa 1928, sold at $76,050, a strong sale value.
William Perehudoff, “ACP-93-35,” 1993, acrylic on paper, 11″ x 8″ (sold at Levis for $9,360)
William Perehudoff’s small, perfect ACP-93-35, from 1993, sold for $9,360, a record price for his works on paper. The piece, a study for a major canvas, is one of his best late-period works.
Overall, the Levis sale did well, with many online bidders.
Waddingtons, Canadian Fine Art, Toronto
Molly Lamb Bobak, “Bus Stop, Fredericton, N.B.” no date
oil on canvas, 15″ x 24″ (sold at Waddington’s for $57,600)
Molly Lamb Bobak’s undated Bus Stop, Fredericton, N.B., went for $57,600 at the Nov. 18 sale at Waddingtons. Her paintings sparkle with humanity, and collectors are interested in her depictions of everyday life.
I thought A.Y. Jackson’s Early Spring, Algonquin Park, from 1914, would attract far more attention. It sold for $420,000, the opening bid. The large beautiful painting was accompanied by excellent research, and was originally sold as Autumn, Canoe Lake.
Joe Fafard, “Painter and His Model (Egon Schiele),” from the “Mes Amis” series, 2015, chemical patina on bronze, 28″ x 10″ x 10″ (sold at Waddington’s for $26,400)
Joe Fafard’s 2015 sculpture Painter and his Model, (Egon Schiele), from the Mes Amis series, is an amazing piece and tells a story only Fafard could conceive. It sold for $26,400.
John Hartman, “Manitou Dock,” 1993, diptych, oil on linen, 72″ x 120″ (sold at Waddington’s for $40,800)
A large, stunning painting from John Hartman’s early days, Manitou Dock, sold for $40,800. The work, dated 1993, is active and lively, with great colour and brushwork. It has a story to tell.
Cowley Abbott, Toronto
John William Beatty, “Early Spring, Algonquin Park,” circa 1914-16, oil on board, 8.5″ x 10.5″ (sold at Cowley Abbott for $168,000)
With an estimate of only $10,000 to $15,000, the phones and online bidding were very competitive for John William Beatty’s painting Early Spring, Algonquin Park, circa 1914-16, at the Nov. 22 sale. It went for $168,000, the second-highest price his work has reached at auction.
Molly Lamb Bobak’s Beach Crowd, a busy scene full of people enjoying the day, attracted interest. It sold for $108,000, a new auction record for the artist.
Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun, “Landscape, Spruce Pine Beetle Kill,” 2008
acrylic on linen 72.5″ x 49″ (sold at Cowley Abbott for $78,000)
A large, colourful painting by Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun set a record for the artist at auction. Landscape, Spruce Pine Beetle Kill, from 2008, depicts the devastation pine beetles are wreaking on forests. It sold for $78,000.
James Wilson Morrice, “A Bridge in London,” circa 1913-15, oil on board, 11″ x 14″ (sold at Cowley Abbott for $192,000)
A brilliant impressionist sketch by J.W. Morrice, A Bridge in London, circa 1913-15, sold for $192,000. The artist's deft brush is fascinatingly spare in this scene of British life.
A rare find in Canada, Andy Warhol’s Howdy Doody, from 1981, sold for $60,000 in Cowley Abbott's international sale on Nov. 30.
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Mary Ella Dignam, “Sand Dunes,” no date
oil on board, 10.5″ x 14″ (sold at Cowley Abbott for $3,840)
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Lawrence Arthur Colley Panton, “Mountain Waterfalls,” no date
oil on canvas laid down on board, 9″ x 11″ (sold at Cowley Abbott for $2,160)
The Art Gallery of Alberta sold works from a prominent collection, with approval from the estate of the original collector. Included was Mary Ella Dignam’s Sand Dunes, which sold for $3,840, and Lawrence A. Panton’s Mountain Waterfalls, which sold for $2,160. The sale did well, with some rare and interesting works.
Fritz Brandtner, “Abstract #33,” 1966
oil on board, 21″ x 15″ (sold at Cowley Abbott for $23,600)
Fritz Brandtner was originally from Winnipeg, although he’s best known for his later work in Montreal. He was highly inventive and creative. His 1966 Abstract #33 sold for $23,600.
Ambera Wellman, “Hound,” 2017
acrylic on canvas, 18″ x 18.5″ (sold at Cowley Abbott for $38,400)
An estimate of $2,000 to $3,000 for Ambera Wellman’s Hound, 2017, was quickly left in the dust by very active bidding. It sold for $38,400.
Heffel, Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal
Bess Larkin Housser Harris, “Houses,” no date, oil on board
11″ x 14″ (sold at Heffel for $43,250)
Treasures from the family of Lawren S. Harris were on offer at Heffel’s Nov. 25 Canadian art sale, including Houses, by his wife, Bess L.H. Harris. It sold for $43,250. As with many wives of historical artists, she often painted or sketched with her husband, and exhibited quietly on occasion.
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Maud Lewis, “Harbour Scene,” mixed media on board
9″ x 12″ (sold at Heffel for $61,250)
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Maud Lewis, “Train Station in Winter,” mixed media on board
12″ x 20″ (sold at Heffel for $67,250)
Jack Hamilton Bush, “Solo,” oil on board, 16″ x 12″ (sold at Heffel for $28,125)
Maud Lewis paintings always attract high bids, especially ones with uncommon colours or subjects. Harbour Scene and Train Station in Winter sold for $61,250 and $67,250, respectively.
The estate of Mary and Harry Klonoff, a Vancouver couple, had a fine collection in the sale that included Solo by Jack Bush. His fabulous painting of a jazz trumpeter sold for $28,125.
At Heffel's Dec. 1 sale of post-war contemporary art, Gordon Smith’s 1999 acrylic painting, June 99, a brilliant example of his abstraction, sold for $217,250, a record for the artist.
One of Alex Colville’s finest works, Night Walk, from 1981, sold for $901,250.
Jack Shadbolt’s work deserves far more attention. His 1958 piece, Boat Theme in Green, Red, White and Blue, Beach Collioure, sold for $67,250.
Christopher Pratt, “Salt Shed Interior,” 1988
oil on canvas, 54″ x 104″ (sold at Heffel for $361,250)
My first viewing of Christopher Pratt’s 1988 Salt Shed Interior stopped me still. A calm came over me. The work, stark and serene, has an immense quietude. It sold for $361,250, a record at auction.
A.J. Casson, “Pic Island, Lake Superior,” 1928
oil on board, 9″ x 11″ (sold at Heffel for $481,250)
With 16 phone bidders, plus more online, a record was set within minutes of the opening bid on A.J. Casson’s small 1928 panel, Pic Island, Lake Superior. It sold for $481,250 at the Canadian Impressionist and modern art sale.
Emily Carr, “Cordova Drift,” 1931
oil on canvas, 30″ x 36″ (sold at Heffel for $3,361,250)
Emily Carr continues to dominate. Her 1931 oil, Cordova Drift, sold for more than $3.3 million. The historical essay that accompanied the piece was well researched and worthy of note.
Paul Kane’s rare painting, Assiniboine Hunting Buffalo, circa 1855, sold for more than $3.2 million.
Arthur Lismer, “Mountain and Lake,” 1926
oil on canvas, 32″ x 40″ (sold at Heffel for $601,250)
David Brown Milne, “Alder Branch,” 1933, oil on canvas, 18″ x 22″ (sold at Heffel for $541,250)
In my opinion, Arthur Lismer’s 1926 work Mountain and Lake is the finest large painting of B.C.’s Lake O’Hara. It was made from a study of the same date. It sold for $601,250.
David Milne was ahead of his time. His 1933 work Alder Branch sold for $541,250.
Although the two sales were concise and comprised fewer works than usual, Heffel again achieved a positive result.
BYDealers, Montreal
Paul-Émile Borduas, “Le cri des rainettes,” 1953, oil on canvas, 16″ x 20″ (sold at ByDealers for $216,000)
Although BYDealers exhibited strong works by Quebec artists, as well as solid work by other Canadian contemporary artists, sales struggled to go beyond estimates at its post-war and contemporary auction on Nov. 28. In some cases, entire lots were passed over, as they did not reach the low estimate, an unfortunate result.
A 1953 painting by Paul-Émile Borduas, Le cri des rainettes, was estimated at $200,000 to $250,000. Made when Borduas was in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, the painting was shown in his first solo exhibition at the Passedoit Gallery in New York. In my view, this period, before he started making his familiar black and white paintings, is very strong. I expected it to sell at least at the low estimate. It sold at $216,000, with the buyer’s premium included, a good deal for the collector.
Rita Letendre, “Malapèque,” 1973, acrylic on canvas, 48″ x 60″ (sold at ByDealers for $36,000)
As many know, Rita Letendre died shortly before this sale. She was a wonderful artist, and four of her works were on offer. Two early paintings from 1961-62 failed to find buyers. I was surprised, as both were powerful. Malapèque, from 1973, sold at the low estimate for $36,000.
David Urban’s 2004 painting Grenadier No. 3 (from the series Treats for the Nightwalker) sold for $37,200. It’s an active and beautiful piece. BYDealers excels at taking interest – and chances – with contemporary artists who deserve to be better known.
Hodgins, Calgary
Alan Caswell Collier, “On Lancaster Sound at Dundas Harbour,” circa 1972
oil on canvas, 36″ x 48″ (sold at Hodgins for $26,325)
Very few artists travelled and painted as much of Canada as Alan Collier. His quiet painting, On Lancaster Sound, Dundas Harbour, circa 1972, is yet another example of his commitment. It sold for $26,325 at the Nov. 29 sale at Hodgins.
Marion Florence Nicoll, “Christmas Calendar,” 1964
colour clay print on paper, ed. 11/20, 11″ x 14″ (sold at Hodgins for $4,387)
Marion Nicoll’s 1964 print, Christmas Calendar, shows her brilliant hand with clay relief prints, a rare medium. It sold for $4,387.
Alex Janvier, “Untitled Composition,” 1963
gouache on paper, 16″ x 14″ (sold at Hodgins for $17,550)
Three early works on paper by Alex Janvier were on sale. A small gouache from 1963, Untitled Composition, was the best of the three, and attracted strong bidding, selling for $17,550.
First Arts, Toronto
Kiugak (Kiawak) Ashoona, “Howling Transforming Spirit,” 1963
stone, 8″ x 8″ x 5.5″ (sold at First Arts for $120,000)
A small stone sculpture, Howling Transforming Spirit, by Kiugak (Kiawak) Ashoona, sold for $120,000 at the Nov. 30 sale at First Arts. The 1963 work was previously owned by Paul Duval, a Toronto-based author, critic and collector.
Sheouak Petaulassie, “Bird in Blue,” 1960
#58, sealskin stencil, 1/50, printed by Iyola Kingwatsiak, 12″ x 24″ (sold at First Arts for $13,200)
I loved Bird in Blue, a 1960 sealskin stencil by Sheouak Petaulassie. It sold for $13,200.
A rare work by Kenojuak Ashevak, Rabbit Eating Seaweed, sold for $84,000, a record for the artist. The 1958 sealskin stencil is a fabulous graphic image.
An incredibly abstract stone sculpture by Lucy Tasseor Tutsweetok caught collectors’ interest. Family and Igloos, from the late 1970s, sold for $52,800, a record for the artist.
Sangani Osuitok and Osuitok Ipeelee, “Rearing Caribou,” circa 1985-6
stone and antler, 22″ x 22″ x 12.5″ (sold at First Arts for $66,000)
Rearing Cariboo, circa 1985-86, is a beautiful carving full of life and rhythm by Sangani Osuitok and Osuitok Ipeelee. It sold for $66,000, a record price.
I encourage a visit to First Arts. Unfortunately, during this sale, the YouTube live presentation was disrupted by sound issues, out-of-focus camera work and lighting issues. This important sale deserved a better platform.
Hopefully, live auctions and easy previews will soon become the norm again. ■
All prices include the buyer’s premium unless otherwise noted. Images are courtesy of the respective auction houses.
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