Celebrating the Results from Our Fall Fine Art Auction

highlights of our Fall 2024 Canadian & International Fine Art auction

Setting a record for a painting sold in an online auction by a Canadian auction house, the star lot of our Canadian & International Fine Art auction, Lawren Harris’ North Shore, Lake Superior exceeded its pre-sale estimate to achieve $4,392,750.

The previously unknown painting attracted significant interest from the moment we announced its inclusion in our auction, and the admiration of all who saw it during our previews. The story behind the work was as captivating as the canvas itself, and we are thrilled to have played a part in bringing the painting to the market.

Alec Blair, Director of the Lawren Harris Inventory Project, described the canvas as “a prime example of the artist at the peak of his landscape career, depicting one of his most important subjects,” in his catalogue essay. We also had the opportunity to interview Alec about the thrill of finding a new work by Harris, the artist’s practice, and the enduring relevance a century later. Read our interview.

Finally, we are grateful to Dr. Brenda Gallie for her passion and commitment in sharing her story behind North Shore, Lake Superior, and how a portion of the proceeds will benefit the International Retinoblastoma Consortium. 

collector Favourites

The auction also featured another work by Lawren Harris, Autumn, Design for a Panel, which also exceeded its estimate, selling for $80,050.

Alec Blair writes that: “Design for a Panel is an important moment in the career of Lawren S. Harris, capturing a clear link between the landscape works of the 1920s and the geometric and transcendental non-objective works that followed in later decades.”

Nude, a quiet and intimate moment captured by James Wilson Morrice circa 1896 was both a collector and staff favourite, realising $61,750. This early work represents one of only two nudes in a landscape by the artist. An untitled British Columbia interior forest scene by Arthur Lismer also achieved a strong result, exceeding its pre-sale estimate to sell for $21,250.

Rita Letendre’s work continues to inspire collectors. Enthusiastic collectors drove the final price for To the Spirit of Beethoven,1992, to almost twice its pre-auction estimate to sell for $18,750.

An epic work by Robert Bateman, Winter Run – Bull Moose, 1994, was another highlight of the auction. This impressive painting, at 30 x 60 in (76.2 x 152.4 cm), sold for $86,150.

Comes Now the Spring With All Her Fair Arrays, 1958 by Takao Tanabe was another collectors’ favourite, attracting the most bids in the auction and achieving almost three times the pre-auction estimate at a price realised of $21,250.

International SUCCESSES

The “Nellie” and the “Spinaway” at Pin Mill – Suffolk by perennial favourite Edward Seago, reminded us of the early days of Seago’s success in Canada in the 1950s, when collectors would queue to attend his sell-out exhibitions.

The quintessential sailing scene nearly doubled its pre-sale estimate to sell for $61,750.

While measuring only 7.75 x 12 x 9 in (19.7 x 30.5 x 22.9 cm), the small scale of Three Sitting Figures, 1976, by celebrated British artist Lynn Chadwick, did not diminish buyers’ interest, selling for $50,000.

Recognised as one of the most exciting artists to emerge from the post-war period in Britain, Chadwick’s work continues to inspire and influence new generations of sculptors and remains sought after by collectors looking to rediscover the innovations of British post-war artists.

David Hockney is considered to be one of the most influential British artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. We were delighted to include Ian Fountains Abbey, Yorkshire, January 1983, in our fall auction. The collage of chromogenic prints achieved $30,720.

View all results

Interested in viewing all the results from our November 2024 Canadian & International Fine Art Auction? Please click here.

Please also enjoy browsing the results from our major First Nations Art and Inuit Art auctions.

Consignment Opportunities

The consignment process for our 2025 auctions is already underway and we look forward to meeting with you to discuss how you can achieve excellent results for your artworks.

Please contact us for more information on consigning with Waddington’s.