Our nation’s post-war artists were on strong display during the May 28th spring live auction with Cowley Abbott featuring paintings and sculpture by artists from across Canada that dazzled collectors during weeks of previews in Calgary and Toronto. The excitement during the viewings carried to sale night as rapid bidding carried prices well within estimate and, in several instances, beyond the high-end of expectation.
Yves Gaucher Ocres, jaune et vert, 1974
Jack Bush Vic Day, 1974Harold Town Spector,1960
Sorel Etrog High Society, 1964
Norval Morrisseau Conversation with Our White Brother, 1980
This season, Cowley Abbott’s offerings of early Canadian paintings and works on paper provided collectors the opportunity to bid upon examples that represented our country’s creators starting from Confederation. These examples excited collectors throughout our previews and drove bidders to raise their paddles high (in the auction gallery, on the telephone and online), pressing several of the works of art to exceed pre-sale expectation.
P.C. Sheppard The Bridge Builders, Construction, Bloor Street Viaduct, 1915
Cornelius Krieghoff Bilking the Toll Gate, 1869James Wilson Morrice On the Terrace, circa 1898
Frances Anne Hopkins Lumber Raft on the Ottawa, 1886David Milne Green and Brown, Boston Corners, 1917
From rare 1880s watercolours by Frances Anne Hopkins to an electric diptych by Wanda Koop, the Cowley Abbott spring live auction featured rare and important work from celebrated female Canadian artists, spanning more than 150 years of creation. Regardless of the period of the artwork, the rarity and quality of the paintings and works on paper invited spirited bidding with several works well exceeding their estimates.
Marcelle Ferron Sans titre, 1964
Emily Carr Fir Trees, circa 1935
Frances Anne Hopkins Canoes in a Fog, Lake Superior, 1864
Cowley Abbott’s international art department has continued to grow steadily over the past five years, attracting artwork of note by artists globally to a collecting audience across Canada and beyond. Importantly, these offerings are providing an opportunity for Canadian collectors to acquire international artworks within our borders, while also serving our clients around the globe. This season provided a focused grouping of paintings, works on paper and sculpture from artists around the world, with representation from the United States, France, Spain and Mexico. The quality and rarity of these works attracted determined strategy from bidders, leading to another season of strong results.
Gene Davis Hell’s Calendar #3
Andy Warhol Turtle (F&S II.360A), 1985
Jessie Willcox Smith Study for a Portrait
Andy Warhol Wayne Gretzky #99 (F&S II.306)
Eugenio Fernández Granell Characters Coming Out of the Clouds, 1974
The Group of Seven were represented strongly in the Cowley Abbott spring live auction last week with eight of the ten members of the celebrated association featured. Many of the exceptional Group artworks made their auction debut, inspiring fierce bidding and driving strong results. Here are some of the artworks by the Group that excited collectors during the spring sale.
Franklin Carmichael Old Orchard, 1940Alfred Joseph Casson The Village Store, Bradford, circa 1928
Lawren Harris Northern Lake, circa 1925
J.E.H. MacDonald Church by the Sea, N.S., 1922
Arthur Lismer Light Breaking Through, Lake Superior, 1927Frank Hans Johnston Along the Line, Algoma, 1918
View Rob Cowley’s Video Highlighting “Fir Trees”, circa 1935 by Emily Carr
Celebrated Female Artists Featuring Emily Carr
Cowley Abbott is delighted to share Fir Trees, circa 1935 by Emily Carr this auction season. Carr’s oil on paper sketches are amongst her most important contributions to Canadian art. No other Canadian painter explored the idea of the sketch more intensely and brilliantly than Emily Carr and this work is a prime example.
Cowley Abbott is very proud to be entrusted with a strong selection of works by Canadian and international female artists in the Spring Live Auction of Select Masterworks of Canadian and International Art on May 28th. We hope you will visit our auction preview at the Toronto gallery to enjoy these artworks.
Emily Carr, Fir Trees, circa 1935
Fern Isabel Coppedge Autumn SceneLise Gervais Le double anneau dans l’oeil
Rita Letendre Sans titreMarcelle Ferron Sans titre
Maud Lewis Two FishermenFrances Anne Hopkins Canoes in a Fog, Lake Superior
Alexandra Luke Exanimo (From the Heart)
Pegi Nicol MacLeod School GardenJessie Willcox Smith Study for a Portrait
Peter Clapham Sheppard: Chronicler of the Urban Environment
Cowley Abbott is delighted to be entrusted with a rare and masterful work by Peter Clapham Sheppard, The Bridge Builders, Construction, Bloor Street Viaduct, 1915.
P.C. Sheppard was one of the first among Toronto’s early twentieth century modernists to record the urban experience during a period of dynamic growth and change. Such massive building projects proclaimed this city’s unstoppable industrial and technological age. Bridge Builders is an emblem of the aspirational spirit of a confident nation that will soon emerge from the crucible of war proud, independent, and with a new global identity. Sheppard is captivated by the movement, light, and activity of ports, railyards, markets, parades and the circus. The artist extols the humanity of the workers who laboured there, mostly new immigrants, whose toil wove together the rich multicultural fabric we enjoy in Toronto today.
Cowley Abbott is very proud to be entrusted with this painting, which makes its auction debut in our Spring Live Auction of Select Masterworks of Canadian and International Art on May 28th.
Peter Clapham Sheppard The Bridge Builders, Construction, Bloor Street Viaduct, 1915
Cowley Abbott is excited to present an extraordinary collection of post-war & contemporary art in our upcoming live auction, “Select Masterworks of Canadian & International Art” set to take place on May 28th at the Globe & Mail Centre.
This event promises to be an exciting evening, showcasing artworks that have shaped the artistic landscape over the decades. Whether you’re an avid collector or a curious art enthusiast, this auction offers a unique opportunity to witness and acquire works that tell compelling stories of creativity and innovation.
If you are interested in offering artwork by one of the artists listed in our directory (or other possible artists), please submit details of your artwork or Contact Us for further assistance.
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