Additional Images

Provenance:

Collection of Dr. James Colwill, Victoria, BC

Note:

“Tungilik credits a Roman Catholic priest, Father Rivoire, with encouraging him to do miniatures. Father Franz van der Velde has also written of his own successful efforts in Kugaaruk in 1945 to get the artist to make a small bust of Christ. Thus frequent subjects such as angels and priests are a continuation of these early religious influences.”
From November 2008 Waddington Catalogue, Darlene Coward Wight

It is difficult to date this piece, however we can assume it was early in his career given the fine execution of this truly divine work. This piece is an outstanding example of the artist at his finest.

All of the ivories in this collection were purchased by Dr. James Colwill on his trip to the Arctic in 1972. The trip was taken in conjunction with a working field trip with Canadian Arctic Producers that included visits to Baker Lake, Frobisher Bay, Pangnirtung, Broughton Island, Clyde River, Pond Inlet, Grise Fiord, Resolute Bay, Spence Bay, Igloolik, Pelly Bay and Cape Dorset.

Dr. Colwill met with and visited the homes of the artists whose works he purchased on his trip resulting in an exceptional collection that is at the same time both thoughtful and personal.