Out at Avaray: Georges Mathieu

Our major Canadian and International Fine Art auction opens with a selection of works from a distinguished family collection from Kingston, Ontario. Passionate and discerning collectors, the family lived with these works in their home for decades, bringing together a significant and carefully curated selection of Canadian and international art. Seven works from the collection are offered in this auction, each with exceptional provenance and a history of acquisition through some of Canada’s most respected galleries and dealers.

Out at Avaray, a major painting by French artist Georges Mathieu, acquired from Dominion Gallery in Montreal, is an important part of the collection. The painting was fittingly hung above the family piano, an homage to Mathieu’s connection to musical performance.

Georges Mathieu was a leading figure in Abstraction Lyrique, a movement that emphasized spontaneity and the direct expression of emotion through painting. He began experimenting with abstraction in the early 1940s and 1950s, moving away from recognizable forms toward more fluid shapes and gestural brushwork.

A trip to Japan in 1957 further shaped Mathieu’s approach—his encounter with Japanese calligraphy deepened his interest in swift, spontaneous gestures and their emotional impact. Mathieu developed a distinctive style in which bold marks take centre stage against a relatively restrained background.

The paintings Mathieu produced during the 1960s and 1970s are widely regarded as some of the strongest of his career, reflecting a confident and fully developed artistic language.

Painted in 1970, Out of Avaray is a striking example of this period. The composition is particularly effective in its use of colour and contrast. A monochromatic brown background sets off the sweeping gold gestures, which draw the eye toward the deep royal-blue centre. He balances the energy of his brushwork with a carefully considered arrangement of shapes and colour. While a similar palette appears in other paintings from 1970, the combination of gold and royal blue is distinctive to Out of Avaray.

This painting has remained in the same collection since it was acquired from Montreal’s Dominion Gallery, which represented Mathieu in Canada. A certificate of authenticity has been requested to the Comité Georges Mathieu, Paris.

About the Auction

Our major fall 2026 Canadian & International Fine Art auction features works by renowned Canadian artists Cornelius Krieghoff, Gordon Appelbe Smith, Frederick Arthur Verner, A.J. Casson, A.Y. Jackson, and William Kurelek, alongside international offerings by Edouard Cortès and Henri Lebasque. Also featured is a collection of works by Georges Mathieu, David Milne, and Eduardo Paolozzi from an Important Private Collection. Additional highlights include exceptional, unpublished works by Fernand Léger and Sir Alfred James Munnings.

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On view at our Toronto gallery:

Saturday, November 14 from 12 pm to 4 pm
Sunday, November 15 from 12 pm to 4 pm
Monday, November 16 from 10 am to 5 pm
Tuesday, November 17 from 10 am to 7 pm
Wednesday, November 18 from 10 am to 5 pm

Or by appointment.

Contact us at [email protected] for more information.