Canadian Fine Art Auction

May 26, 2014

LOT 81

Lot 81

MARC-AURÈLE FORTIN, A.R.C.A.

MARC-AURÈLE FORTIN, A.R.C.A.
Lot 81 Details
MARC-AURÈLE FORTIN, A.R.C.A.

COUNTRYSIDE VALLEY

oil on panel
signed; signed on the reverse
13.25 ins x 18 ins; 33.7 cms x 45.7 cms

Estimate $15,000-$20,000

Realised: $21,240
Price Includes Buyer's Premium ?

Lot Report

Additional Images
MARC-AURÈLE FORTIN, A.R.C.A.
  • MARC-AURÈLE FORTIN, A.R.C.A.
Provenance:

Private Collection, Montreal

Literature:

Charles C. Hill, Canadian Painting in the Thirties, National Gallery of Canada (exhibition catalogue), Ottawa, 1975, page 115.

Note:

Having studied art in Montreal and Chicago, Marc-Aurèle Fortin first earned notice for his energetic and colourful landscapes which depicted the countryside around his home village of Sainte-Rose.  Returning there in 1935 after a brief sojourn in France, Fortin spent four decades tirelessly depicting the hilly countryside and tiny hamlets nearby in addition to scenes of the Gaspé and Saguenay regions.

The vibrant shades of Countryside Valley correspond to a heightened interest in rich colours which also accompanied Fortin upon return from France.  The best of these pictures were completed before 1945, and their bold, pure colour, along with the intensity inherent in his heavy-handed drawing make the Sainte-Rose landscapes some of the artist’s most beautiful and accomplished. 
 
For Charles C. Hill, the importance of the artist lay in the fact that he “transformed the landscape into an expression of a national identity” in a way that was less vocal and more self-assured than his peers. While Fortin saw himself as an adherent to academic traditions, his signature use of vivid pigments made him stand out as one of the most progressive artists of the 1920s.

CONDITION DETAILS

For condition information please contact the specialist.

LOT 81
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About Condition Ratings

  • 5 Stars: Excellent - No discernable damage, flaws or imperfections
  • 4 Stars: Very Good - Minor flaws or imperfections visible only under close inspection using specialised instruments or black light
  • 3 Stars: Good - Minor flaws visible upon inspection under standard lighting
  • 2 Stars: Fair - Exhibits flaws or damage that may draw the eye under standard lighting
  • 1 Star: Poor - Flaws or damage immediately apparent under standard lighting (examples: missing components, rips, broken glass, damaged surfaces, etc.)

Note: Condition ratings and condition details are the subjective opinions of our specialists and should be used as a guide only. Waddington’s uses due care when preparing condition details, however, our staff are not professional restorers or conservators. Condition details and reports are not warranties and each lot is sold “as is” in accordance with the buyer’s terms and conditions of sale. In all cases the prospective purchaser is responsible for inspecting the property themselves prior to placing a bid.