signed lower left; signed and titled on the reverse
20 × 16 in (50.8 × 40.6 cm)
Auction Estimate:$8,000 - $12,000
Sale date:November 20, 2018
Price Realized
$7,670
(including Buyer's Premium)
Provenance
Private Collection, Toronto (believed to be acquired at Eaton’s, Toronto circa 1935)
By descent to the present Private Collection, Toronto
Franz Johnston was praised for his handling of light and his ability to capture contrasts between sunlit colour and depths of shade. His treatment of the Canadian landscape in a decorative style set him apart from other Group of Seven members. Johnston exemplifies this approach in “Golden Afterglow”, a harmonious composition of crisp white snow that covers the forest and creates heavy pine boughs that are commonly present in Group of Seven winter scenes. As suggested by the painting’s title, the composition exudes a warm glow emanating from behind the screen of trees. Views of snow-covered forests lend themselves well to the artist’s preferred style, which Johnston frequently depicted in picturesque renderings. “Golden Afterglow” showcases the artist’s ability to transform the ordinary to the ornate.
