Acquired directly from the artist
By descent to the present Private Collection, Ontario
The father of the consignor of “Farm Landscape” was a driving examiner with the Ministry of Transportation in Kingston during the 1960s and 70s. It was during a testing session for drivers in the Napanee area that he met Manly MacDonald, the painter due to complete the test as a senior. The two men connected during their session (he passed) and MacDonald invited him and his family to his summer residence in the area. The current owner of the artwork recalls the visit to the painter's home with his father and sister on an autumn Sunday. MacDonald appeared larger than life to the eight-year-old, however his warmth and kindness is fondly remembered by the consignor to this day, along with the striking memory of the artist's stately home and the gorgeous grounds which surrounded, familiar from MacDonald's celebrated paintings depicting the region. At the end of their stay, the artist invited the children to pick a gift from a large table of knick-knacks and for their father to choose one of his paintings. The children chose a small glass shoe and a miniature hand-painted vase, while their father chose “Farm Landscape”. The painting was still on the easel upon his selection, the artist framing it while they waited.
