Canadian Fine Art Auction

November 21, 2016

LOT 39

Lot 39

JAMES EDWARD HERVEY MACDONALD, O.S.A., R.C.A.

JAMES EDWARD HERVEY MACDONALD, O.S.A., R.C.A.
Lot 39 Details
JAMES EDWARD HERVEY MACDONALD, O.S.A., R.C.A.

MATTAWA

oil on board
titled on the reverse
8 ins x 10 ins; 20.3 cms x 25.4 cms

Estimate $15,000-$20,000

Realised: $36,000
Price Includes Buyer's Premium ?

Lot Report

Additional Images
JAMES EDWARD HERVEY MACDONALD, O.S.A., R.C.A.
  • JAMES EDWARD HERVEY MACDONALD, O.S.A., R.C.A.
  • JAMES EDWARD HERVEY MACDONALD, O.S.A., R.C.A.
Provenance:

Florence Wyle, Toronto
Walter Klinkhoff Gallery, Montreal
Private Collection, Ontario

Note:

For a number of years before the Group of Seven formally introduced their artistic vision in 1920, the artists who would eventually form the Group had been making trips to Georgian Bay, Algonquin Park and Algoma—relatively remote areas north of urban centres—in search of appropriate subject matter. MacDonald, who left his position at Grip Limited in 1911 to spend more time painting, first visited Georgian Bay in 1912, and in the spring of 1913 made the first of two trips to Mattawa on the Ottawa River with his sketching partner, Lawren Harris. He made a second trip to Mattawa sometime around 1920, either before he took up a teaching position at the Ontario College of Art in the autumn of 1921 or possibly during one of the following summers, when he had time off from teaching.

On both trips, MacDonald made oil sketches of the local buildings in town—unusual subject matter for him, as he was not typically drawn to urban scenes. The composition in this later work is more dynamic, (the artist positions the viewer facing the corner of the clapboard structure, which gives it volume) the paint application is broader and freer, and the colours stronger and richer. The foreground is rendered in subtle variations of grey, green and mauve, and the paint thickly applied so as to give the rocks a sculptural quality. This would have appealed to Florence Wyle, the Toronto sculptor and friend of the Group of Seven who originally owned the painting. The increasing freedom of expression evident in MacDonald’s work from around 1916 was noted by Albert Robson in his monograph of the artist in 1937.

CONDITION DETAILS

For condition information please contact the specialist.

LOT 39
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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.