Working with both Canadian and International Art I’m always intrigued by the unspoken dialogue that can occur in work by artists of different nationalities who unlikely had any contact.
I was instantly drawn to the dynamic work by Jack Bush, Angry Man and saw the many similarities it has with Edouardo Kingman’s painting Figura, which will be offered in our June International Art auction. Both artists have a very modernist approach to their subjects: the compact focus on single figures, the expressive lines and selective colour choices all come together to convey intense human emotions.
Perry Tung, Senior Canadian & International Art Specialist. Contact Perry at perry@cowleyabbott.ca.
We are pleased to welcome Catherine Lacroix to the Cowley Abbott team!
After completing her undergraduate studies at Concordia University, Catherine received her Master’s in Art History from the University of St Andrews in Scotland, where she specialized in Renaissance art. She then interned at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, researching European works within the permanent collection while providing administrative assistance.
Eager to further explore the commercial art world, Catherine undertook a short course at Christie’s in New York before moving to Vancouver to work at YKLM Auctions as part of the Canadian contemporary and Asian art departments. She contributed to establishing the reputation and increasing the visibility of this new auction house among local collectors and artists.
Looking through the Prints, Photography and Multiples auction, we see excellent works by the masters of the 20th Century, including Picasso, Motherwell, Dali, Albers and Chagall. But there are two exceptionally rare prints that are wonderful examples of the difference between an etching and an engraving.
River Drifters (River Drivers) by Frank Weston Benson
The first is entitled Rivers Drifters (Drivers) by Frank Weston Benson, who was already an accomplished painter when he took up printmaking. Benson was a member of a group, who became known as The Ten American Painters. They were an exhibition group that included Impressionists, Tonalists and Figure painters, such as Childe Hassam and John Henry Twatchman. William Merritt Chase would join the group later upon the death of Twachtman. Benson was exhibiting with the group when he took up etching recreationally in the early part of the 20th Century. He would have great success exhibiting and selling his work in this medium. His usual subject matter of choice was wildlife or sporting subjects.
However, in River Drifters (Drivers) from 1914, no wildlife is present, instead he has focused attention on two loggers working along the Grand Lake Stream in Washington County. Especially wonderful is the small detail of the pipe in the standing figure’s mouth. This is a fantastic example of the etching technique, where the lines have been burned (etched) onto the plate using a chemical process, having been coated in a substance that is acid resistant called the etching ground. The image is then drawn through the ground to reveal the plate below, which is then bathed in acid etching the plate. When compared to etching, engraving is a much more physical process, where lines are carved into the plate using sharp tools producing a cleaner more pronounced line.
Three Girls on a Chicken (Sasowsky 214) by Reginald Marsh
Reginald Marsh studied under John Sloan at the Art Students League in New York. His subject matter were the people of New York, whether at play on Coney Island, dancing at a night club, riding the subway or just walking the street. Here is another American artist who took printmaking to a new level. Not only was he concerned with the finished product, but he was also obsessed with how he arrived there. Part of his process was making sure the temperature in his studio was just right for printmaking. Marsh was also aware of the age of the bath that his plates were soaked in, recording how long the paper soaked, observing the heating of the plate and the nature of the ink used in printing. Three Girls on a Chicken is from 1941, from an edition of approximately only twenty and is an extremely scarce engraving presenting Marsh at his finest.
Perry Tung viewing the offerings of this month’s online auction
Cowley Abbott is delighted to offer these rare works in our
Prints, Photography and Multiples Auction currently open for bidding until
April 19th.
Perry pictured here with resident evaluator Katherine Gray and host Nick Uhas on the set of the Netflix show Blown Away, Season One. Photo courtesy of Marble Media.
Cowley
Abbott has rapidly grown to be a leader in the competitive Canadian auction
industry since its foundation. Our expansion into the international art market
with a dedicated department and the offer of a rare painting by the enigmatic
superstar David Bowie in our first International Art Auction in June 2021 led
to notable exposure for both the artwork and the firm, selling for $108,120 (a
new global auction record). We
invite you to become acquainted with our specialists in our new blog series and learn more
about Cowley Abbott’s pivotal role in the auction industry.
Perry Tung, Senior
Canadian and International Art Specialist
Perry is a fine art specialist and auctioneer with over 20
years of experience in both the primary and secondary art markets, with
knowledge of both Canadian and International Art. Perry joined Cowley Abbott in
December of 2020 and began building the International Art Department, a very
exciting venture for the auction house. Did you know that Perry has volunteered
his time for countless charity auctions over the years and also was a guest
judge on a hit tv television show?
Perry, you have been a regular commentator
and lecturer on Canadian art and the auction market in Canada during your years
in the industry. As a guest judge on an episode of the acclaimed Netflix show, Blown Away, you had the opportunity to
work directly with artists and witness glassblowers creating artworks in real
time. Tell us more about this experience and how you came to be involved. Any
memorable moments from Pop Art Blowup?
One of the show’s creators saw a tv interview I had
done and contacted me. We met, they pitched the show and a couple of months
later we were filming the episode. The most memorable thing was learning about
glass blowing, the terminology and techniques. It was amazing to be in the
hotshop with these talented artists and watch them create something inspired by
Pop Art.
Also, readers should note that
“Blown Away” is still available to watch on Netflix!
Tune in and watch Perry evaluate the talented contestants!
Each year you volunteer your time
as an auctioneer for various charity events across Toronto, including Art with
Heart’s Contemporary Fine Art Auction benefiting Casey House and Snap! A
Contemporary Canadian Photography Auction for the Aids Committee of Toronto.
These are fantastic causes! How long have you been volunteering as an
auctioneer for these charity auctions? When do Art with Heart and Snap! take
place this year? We are excited!
I’ve been
involved with Art with Heart for eighteen years and with Snap! for about
fifteen years. This year is the Twentieth
Anniversary of Snap! and we are excited to host the live broadcast from Cowley Abbot on
March 24th. Art with Heart will be in October this year and we are delighted to host the
previews again at our galleries.
Perry Tung can be reached directly by e-mail at perry@cowleyabbott.ca.
Stay tuned for the next installment of “Introducing the Cowley Abbott Team” in a
week!
Starting an Art Collection & Why You Should Look to Auctions
Lot 14: Peter Deutsch, High Fidelity vinyl copolymer on canvas estimate $1,000-2,000
Collecting art can be fulfilling and add personality to your home. As a thirty-something-year-old art specialist, I have quite a few friends and family members buying their first homes and asking me where they can buy art to put on their walls. For many reasons (admittedly including the fact that I work at an auction house), I recommend online auctions as a way to start and build an art collection. Cowley Abbott’s January online auctions offer great examples of accessible art in a range of styles, subjects, and media. I am happy to share some general art collecting advice and my affordable art picks from the current sale.
Lot 39: Robert Montgomery The People you Meet Become Ghosts Inside of You and Like This You Keep Them Alive colour photograph estimate $1,200-1,500
Browse Indefinitely
It is important to spend time surrounded by art in order to create a context for yourself. Find ways to look at art on a regular basis, through museum and gallery visits, Instagram accounts, the Google Arts & Culture app, and scrolling through online auction listings. Every time you see a work of art, let yourself react to it. Ask, “do I like this? Why or why not?” These experiences will help you develop your personal taste.
Lot 73: Rita Letendre, Northern Legend serigraph estimate $300-500
Learn (some of) the Lingo
Art comes in many forms and materials, and it is worth learning their differences, for the purposes of both aesthetics and value. The general categories include painting, drawing, prints (of which there are many types – etchings, silkscreens, lithographs, etc), photography, sculpture and mixed media. An oil painting is a one-of-a-kind work of art, but also more expensive due to its rarity. Prints, which are duplicate images from a limited edition, are often more readily available and affordable than original paintings. For example, lot 73 is Northern Legend, a 1967 print by Rita Letendre. The estimate is $300-500, far below the typical prices in the tens of thousands for her oil paintings.
Lot 110: Ted Harrison, Ice Moon, Hockey Game two serigraphs estimate $600-800
Be Patient and Enjoy the Journey
Please take your time in this process. When someone asks me for advice on how to find a work of art for their home, I often have to tell them that they should not expect to find something in a day or even a week. Don’t just buy something quickly to fill a blank wall. That being said, if a particular work really grabs you for whatever reason, then go for it! It is better to buy something you love even if you have no idea where it will find a place in your home. Art collecting is a lifelong journey that is never complete – it is always evolving and it reflects how your personality and tastes have changed. Looking at every piece in your collection is like an old journal or photo album–every piece you collect along the way will remind you of a particular moment in your life.
Lot 111: Raphael Montpetit, Dégel oil on board estimate $500-700
