Halcyon Days

the 100th anniversary of the death of Tom Thomson

This summer, I visited some of Thomson’s favourite painting places and then paddled with my daughter to the cairn on Canoe Lake, a pilgrimage in honour of this exceptional Canadian. It was a poignant experience for me and a powerful reminder of the beauty of the Canadian landscape and the fleetingness of summer, which we can easily forget when we spend too much time behind a desk or tablet.

The one thing that keeps most of us sane during summer in the city is that great Canadian institution – the pilgrimage to cottage country beginning from the Victoria Day weekend and repeated religiously every weekend thereafter we can spare.

The glory days of summer (despite a little rain here and there) begin to taper off now with the arrival of Labour Day Weekend. Our thoughts turn to the start of the school year, to TIFF, to gallery hops and galas and other city- centred events that fill the early months of autumn, muffling the cries of the loons and the splash of a paddle, putting distance between those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer as we sprint towards Christmas.

There will be no more time for trips north now but, luckily for us, hanging in the office of the Canadian Art Department, is Charles Comfort’s exquisite rendering of Monument Channel, Georgian Bay extending that summer idyll for a few weeks longer until it, too, moves on to the home of whoever is wise enough to acquire it at our November 20 auction of Important Canadian Art.

In saying goodbye to summer 2017, Anna, Rochelle and I want to take this opportunity to wish all of you a safe and enjoyable long weekend.

We look forward to welcoming you back to our sales rooms on September 17 and 18th, when we will be previewing our Select Online Sale of Canadian Art