Paul-Émile Borduas, "Figures schématiques," 1956
oil on canvas, 51" x 77" ($3.6 million - Heffel)
The sale of a Paul-Emile Borduas painting set a record for the artist at Heffel’s May auction with a price of $3.6 million. At other spring auctions, various artists, including Cornelius Krieghoff, also set records, though more modest ones than Quebec’s most famous automatiste. And then there was the long-lost Tom Thomson.
Levis Fine Art Auction: Calgary, April 22
Consignments of Group of Seven works and three excellent watercolours by W.J. Phillips caught my attention.
Alexander Young Jackson, "Drywood Creek, Waterton Lake / Pincher Creek," circa 1957
oil on canvas, 25" x 32" ($58,500 - Levis)
Frank Carmichael’s watercolour, La Cloche Panorama, 1937, was an excellent buy at $35,100. A.Y. Jackson’s Drywood Creek, Alberta, 1957, was a fine large studio canvas with a great provenance, bought wisely, below value, for $58,500. Another Jackson, a smaller perfect Algoma sketch, with excellent provenance, reached $40,950.
Walter Joseph Phillips, "Untitled - Tranquil Mountain Lake," 1951
watercolour on paper, 14" x 21" ($19,890 - Levis)
The Phillips watercolours were all consigned from one owner. Alpine Waterfall, 1948, sold with a battle at $21,060. Untitled, Glacial Moraine, 1947, smaller and delicate, sold at $14,040. Finally, Untitled, Tranquil Mountain Lake, 1951, sold for $19,890. The timing was perfect for these pieces, as a new book is in the works by curator Lisa Christensen. She writes about Phillips, as she has previously about other painters, and his painting places in the mountains. There is no doubt Phillips is the most important watercolourist of the West.
Waddington’s Fine Canadian Art: Toronto, May 28
I may be repeating myself, but Linda Rodeck usually finds some special works from private collections you will not have seen. I noticed few Group of Seven works, though she did manage to present eight by A.J. Casson. Some did very well.
Adrien Hébert, "Montreal Harbour," 1925
oil on canvas, 32" x 40" ($45,600 - Waddington's)
Other gems that caught my attention included Adrien Hebert's Montreal Harbour, 1925. This rare, larger canvas set a record for the artist’s work at $45,600.
Sorel Etrog, "War Remembrance," 1961-1962
bronze, 36" x 42" ($108,000 - Waddington's)
Sorel Etrog, War Remembrance, 1961-62, sold very well at $108,000. This elegant sculpture deserved the honour of being one of the first sculptures to grace the cover of a Canadian auction catalogue.
Robert Wakeham Pilot, "The C.N.R. Tunnel Shaft in Outremont," 1915
oil on panel, 5.5" x 7" ($6,600 - Waddington's)
Robert W. Pilot is a fixture in most Canadian art sales, but rarely do you find three such exquisite oil sketches: Queen Elizabeth Park, Old St Patrick’s Church and C.N.R. Tunnel, Outremont. All three were from one private collection and were dated 1915-18. These tiny pieces were painted in Montreal early in his career and brought in a worthy $46,200.
Cornelius Krieghoff, "Crossing the Ice with the Royal Mail, Québec," circa 1862
oil on canvas, 18" x 30" ($456,000 - Waddington's)
Cornelius Krieghoff, Crossing the Ice with the Royal Mail, Quebec, circa 1862, proved to be in impeccable condition, and was large for the time. Although the artist painted possibly six of this same subject, the painting garnered active bidding and sold for a record $456,000.
Calgary painter Ron Moppett’s Artist and Model, 1983, sold to active bidding at $9,600.
Sales overall were positive considering the mix of contemporary and historical art and sculpture on offer.
Consignor Canadian Fine Art: Toronto, May 29
Robert Cowley and Lydia Abbott worked hard in the past year and Robert's jetting across the country paid off with some very powerful consignments.
Charles Fraser Comfort, "Smokestacks, Copper Cliff," no date
oil on board, 10" x 12" ($33,040 - Consignor)
Charles F. Comfort, Smokestacks, Copper Cliff, circa 1932-36, is a powerful small sketch of a currently out-of-favour subject. Recognized for the abstraction, design and simplicity, it sold at $33,040, which I understand is a record for the artist’s sketches.
William Kurelek, "Hot Day in Kensington Market," 1972
mixed media on board, 24" x 30" ($472,000 - Consignor)
William Kurelek, Hot Day, Kensington Market, 1972, is a truly remarkable study of life in the market. There was much anticipation and Cowley did not miss a beat, knocking it down for $472,000.
Bill Ronald Reid, "Chief of the Undersea World," 1983 (4/5)
22-karat gold sculpture on jade base 4.5" x 2.3" x 1.3" ($129,800 - Consignor)
Bill Reid, Chief of the Undersea World, 1983, a stunner in 22-karat gold, and only four inches tall, sold for $129,800.
In recent years, we have seen an incredible rise in the value of tiny works by Maude Lewis. Consignor, and a number of the sales across Canada, had some fine examples. With the recent film on her life, once again they did not fall short. At the Consignor sale, my total sales figure was $99,120. Of course, in her lifetime, a sale of more than $20 was huge.
Heffel, Post War & Contemporary, Canadian Impressionist and Modern Art: Toronto, May 30
The Design Exchange is a beautiful venue and featured a number of perfect abstract and contemporary works in the sale of 61 pieces.
William (Bill) Perehudoff, "AC-64-3-A," titled and inscribed "Blue Verticals," 1964
acrylic on canvas, 49" x 47" ($85,250 - Heffel)
William Perehudoff, AC-64-3-A, 1964, with a rare title of Blue Verticals, surprised me with a final sale of $85,250. Perehudoff is finally being recognized, rightly, as a powerhouse of Canadian colour field painting in Western Canada.
1 of 2
Guido Molinari, "Sans titre," 1955
Duco paint on board on wood, 24" x 30" ( $73,250 - Heffel)
2 of 2
Paul-Émile Borduas, "Figures schématiques," 1956
oil on canvas, 51" x 77" ($3.6 million - Heffel)
Guido Molinari’s black and white Sans Titre, 1955, sold for $73,250. But the talk of the town was Paul-Emile Borduas’ Figures schematiques, 1956, which was positioned as the following lot and which the artist said was, in fact, partially inspired by Sans Titre. This major work by Borduas sold for $3.6 million, a record for the artist. The next painting, again by Borduas, Mes pauvres petits soldats, 1949, sold for $205,250. These small energetic abstracts were revolutionary in Canadian art and this one was perfect.
J.P Lemieux’s Le Cavalier dans La Neige, 1968, is, in my view, the perfect Lemieux, white, barren, spatial and mysterious. I was happy to see it sell for $841,250.
Jack Bush’s Strawberry, 1970, went for $691,250 adding strong value and proven interest to Bush's market.
Rodney Graham, "Oxfordshire Oak, Swalcliffe," 1990
monochrome colour print, on verso editioned artist’s proof, 84" x 60" ($175,250 - Heffel)
Rodney Graham’s Oxfordshire Oak, Swalcliffe, 1990, is a large photograph of his famous upside-down tree. There was solid interest, likely from a world market, and it sold for $175,250.
Emily Carr, "Sophie Frank," 1914
watercolour on paper, 9.5" x 7.5" ($277,250 - Heffel)
Turning to Canadian Impressionist and Modern Art, we come to Emily Carr’s Sophie Frank, 1914. This small, sensitive and respectful watercolour graces the opening page of Carr's memoir, Klee Wyck. Superb provenance and exhibition history justified a value of $277,250.
Clarence Alphonse Gagnon, "Late Afternoon, Venice," 1908
oil on panel, 6" x 9" ($205,250 - Heffel)
Charles Gagnon, Late Afternoon, Venice, circa 1910-15, is a small stunning painting, reminiscent of J.W. Morrice with its beautiful colour and light. It doubled the estimate, selling at $205,250.
It was a virtual Robert Pilot feast, with six large works, all selling well amid high interest. Some Group of Seven gems also came up but notably few in number.
Alfred Joseph (A.J.) Casson, "Farmhouse Near Wingle," 1960
oil on board, 24" x 40" ($541,250 - Heffel)
A.J. Casson's Farmhouse near Wingle, 1960, is a large, quiet and well-designed landscape with a brooding sky and a figure escaping to safety. Perfect provenance brought a sale of $541,250.
As often happens at Heffel, A.Y. Jackson's Ontario Mining Town, 1933, which sold for $520,000 in 2007, was back on the market. This wonderful painting tells a story about Canada's early industry and re-sold for $656,250.
Thomas John (Tom) Thomson, "Sketch for Lake in Algonquin Park," 1912 or 1913
oil on canvas on board, 7" x 10" ($481,250 - Heffel)
Tom Thomson’s Sketch for Lake in Algonquin Park, circa 1912, was the story of the night. This sketch for a major painting at the National Gallery of Canada was lost for years. Needless to say, it was one of my favourites, and sold well for $481,250.
Lawren Stewart Harris, "Morning, Lake Superior," circa 1926-1927
oil on board, 12" x 15" ($1.1 million - Heffel)
Lawren Harris’s Morning Lake Superior, circa 1926-27, is a small study for the larger major work of the same title. It is perfect Harris imagery. But reading carefully or studying closely one was aware of the restoration to the painting. Sold at more than $1.1 million, this was an expensive sketch.
Heffel topped the season with total sales of more than $14.6 million. A good success, and progress compared with world markets, but Canadian art has a long way to go to catch up.
BYDealers Auction House: Toronto, May 31
The group of associated dealers behind this project hopes to enlarge the secondary market for contemporary art and artists missing from other auctions. The presentation is professional, but the sale itself needs to gather more bidders and confidence. Certainly, the promise of a stronger contemporary presentation is welcome.
I watched the sale at 30,000 feet, streaming on my computer as I flew over Western Canada. They did $2 million in sales.
J.P. Lemieux, Printemps à Québec-Ouest, 1968, sold for $690,000.
Serge Lemoyne, "Le no 10, Lafleur," 1975
acrylic on canvas, 30" x 48" ($144,000 - BYDealers)
An artist to keep an eye on, Serge Lemoyne’s Le no 10, Lafleur, 1975, reached $144,000.
William Ronald, "Pyramid," 1956
oil on canvas, 65" × 54" ($120,000 - BYDealers)
William Ronald’s Pyramid, 1956, is a fabulous period piece by the Painters Eleven member with great provenance list built primarily from his N.Y.C. exhibition with Kootz Gallery . It sold at $120,000.
Kenneth Campbell Lochhead, "Yellowscape," 1969
oil on canvas, 13" × 69" ($15,600 - BYDealers)
Kenneth Lochhead’s Yellowscape, 1969, is an impressive painting by this member of the Regina Five. It sold at $15,600.
Overall some interesting art works on offer at BYDealers. Estimates were high, some sales were below, and a number of passes were noted.
Hodgins Art Auctions: Calgary, May 28.
Hodgins offers only 100 pieces in its live sale. Of note were some excellent larger paintings consigned by corporate collections.
Illingworth Holey (Buck) Kerr, "Winter Mountainscape," 1966
oil on canvas, 28 x 38" ($9,000 - Hodgins)
Illingworth Kerr’s Winter Mountainscape, 1966, is highly original and a perfect example of the artist’s ability to re-examine the landscape. A very good buy at $9,000.
Ted Godwin, "The Watchers," 2003
oil on canvas, 53.5" x 69" ($19,000 - Hodgins)
Ted Godwin’s super-lively colour-filled painting, The Watchers, 2003, sold impressively at $19,000.
Takao Tanabe, "The Land, Banff Series," 1973
acrylic on canvas, 42" x 84" ($25,000 - Hodgins)
Someone made a very positive buy on Takao Tanabe’s The Land, Banff Series, 1973, at $25,000, probably half of current value.
Ronald John Spickett, "A Gathering of Figures," 1956
Duco enamel on paper board, triptych, each panel 45" x 28" ($4,000 - Hodgins)
Ronald Spickett (Gyo-Zo), A Gathering of Figures, 1956, is a three-panel work owned by a private collector. It was likely inspired in San Miguel Allende in Mexico, where Spickett and many other Canadian artists went to paint. It sold for just $4,000. I am happy it found a home, but dismayed by the value.
Over all, the spring 2018 auction season was busy and lively with some surprises. Some great works by Emily Carr, Doris McCarthy, Dorothy Knowles and other women were sold but no benchmarks were set this season.
And remember, auction previews are free to enjoy in person or online. ■
Images courtesy of Levis, Waddington's, Consignor, Heffel, BYDealers and Hodgins.
