Additional Images

Provenance:

Private Collection, Toronto

Note:

Untitled (Blue Study) by Guido Molinari (1933-2004) is a fine work by an artist of great importance to the history of abstract art in Canada. Its highly reduced compositional format displays his affection for related works by Kasmir Malevich, Mark Rothko, but more specifically Piet Mondrian and Josef Albers. Molinari personally owned works by the latter two artists. Rothko of course was well-regarded for creating compositions that tried to ‘light-up’ a central floating rectangle by the sheer contrast of the surrounding border colour. In Molinari’s instance, his inspiration was no doubt directly attributable to Albers paintings Homage to the Square and his much-read treatise: The Interaction of Colour. Molinari’s monochrome paintings later in life, such as his Quantifier series continue to draw critical acclaim (see lot 68).

His works are numerously included in the collections of every significant art museum in Canada, and additionally the Museum of Modern Art, NY. Molinari was the recipient of many awards including a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1967. Molinari represented Canada at the 1968 Venice Biennale, participated in the Paris Biennale, 1970, was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1971, elected a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts and won the Prix Paul-Émile-Borduas in 1980.