Canadian Fine Art Auction

November 20, 2017

LOT 13

Lot 13

ALFRED JOSEPH CASSON, O.S.A., P.R.C.A.

ALFRED JOSEPH CASSON, O.S.A., P.R.C.A.
Lot 13 Details
ALFRED JOSEPH CASSON, O.S.A., P.R.C.A.

POPLAR GROVE, LAKE KAMANISKEG

oil on board
signed; titled on the reverse
12 ins x 15 ins; 30.5 cms x 38.1 cms

Estimate $20,000-$30,000

Realised: $23,750
Price Includes Buyer's Premium ?

Lot Report

Additional Images
ALFRED JOSEPH CASSON, O.S.A., P.R.C.A.
  • ALFRED JOSEPH CASSON, O.S.A., P.R.C.A.
  • ALFRED JOSEPH CASSON, O.S.A., P.R.C.A.
Provenance:

Private Collection, Toronto

Literature:

Joyce Putnam, Seven Years with the Group of Seven, Quarry Press, Kingston, 1991, page 115.

Note:

Speaking about her good friend A.J. Casson (1898-1992), longtime art collector Joyce M. Putnam said “at last we discovered what he really liked, it was changeable weather, when there were piles of storm clouds approaching, or windy weather when the clouds raced across the sky...he liked it when nature was on the rampage, the sky was filled with violent patterns”.

The painting Poplar Grove, Lake Kamaniskeg demonstrates Casson’s passion for the capriciousness of weather. As a trained and dedicated watercolourist, Casson treated oils almost like this medium, using the paint thinly and without excessive texture, which he saw as being characteristic of the “old days” of oil painting. Despite applying the paint flatly and thinly, through the expert use of line and contrast, Casson imbues great weight and richness to the subject, adding further depth with the screen of golden trees in the foreground. Casson’s outdoor sketches provided the source material for his larger more finished canvases; yet his final pieces retain the same feeling of spontaneity as his preliminary work, and Poplar Grove is no exception.

CONDITION DETAILS

For condition information please contact the specialist.

LOT 13
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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.