There are many fantastic paintings by Franklin Carmichael included in the permanent collection of the AGO. “Study of Trees, Autumn” by Carmichael relates to these prime period signature works, executed with a pageantry of autumn colours. This Carmichael painting has a wonderful exhibition history and impeccable provenance. Learn more with Peter in this short video.

Take a closer look with Peter!

Our evening auction on June 15th is the first opportunity for collectors to both view and acquire this rare and wonderful work by the artist. Visit https://cowleyabbott.ca/artwork/AW40521!

Guido Molinari, a leader in Quebec abstraction, was a major contributor to post-Abstract Expressionism and post-Automatisme with his Stripe Paintings. Série noir/blanc is a “stop-you-in-your-tracks stunner” of a painting. Originally in the collection of the artist’s family, then sold in New York and now being offered by a major collector, this monumental acrylic on canvas makes its debut on the Canadian auction market on June 15th at Cowley Abbott with a pre-sale estimate of $200,000-300,000.

Série noir/blanc will be offered for sale at auction on Wednesday, June 15th at 7 pm at Toronto’s Globe & Mail Centre. The auction is open to the public and we hope to see you there!

Peter popped across the road recently to visit the Art Gallery of Ontario and take a closer look at the Cornelius Krieghoff interior scenes within their permanent collection. These paintings share many similarities in terms of subject matter, rich detail and narrative tone to “French Canadian Habitants Playing at Cards”, the important canvas included in Cowley Abbott’s Spring Live Auction of Important Canadian Art on June 15th.

Learn more in the video below!

One of the artworks I admire in the Spring Live Auction is Bertram Brooker’’s “Still Life (Variation No. 3)“. This work was one of two still-life paintings by Brooker included in the 1938 CNE exhibition in the “Canadian Small Pictures” section. Brooker’s “Variation No. 3” appears to be an abstract version of the second painting, which depicted an arrangement of cabbage and peppers on white paper, a white tablecloth and a brown paper bag. It appears that Brooker wanted to demonstrate in the exhibition how he could toggle between representation and abstraction in paintings that shared a basic iconography of forms.

Cowley Abbott is open all weekend, both Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm, so please feel welcome to drop by for a visit to view the fantastic collection of artworks included in the Spring Live Auction of Important Canadian Art. 

Lydia Abbott, Vice President, Owner & Partner can be reached at lydia@cowleyabbott.ca.

I am drawn in by Riopelle’s thick paint application that creates a tactile surface, tempting the viewer (me) to touch it! 

The palette knife strokes are a mix of order and spontaneity. “Polyvalencia” dates to a key period in the artist’s life – just as he was moving away from his structured “mosaic” compositions to more linear ones; this transition is apparent in the expressive painting.

I also find it noteworthy that during the time Riopelle completed “Polyvalencia” in 1961, he had recently started his romantic relationship with Joan Mitchell – the two shared an apartment in Paris, travelled throughout Europe, and influenced each other’s rapidly evolving work.

Katherine Meredith, Montreal Representative & Art Specialist. Contact Katherine at katherine@cowleyabbott.ca.