signed and dated 1916 lower right; titled on a gallery label on the reverse
18.25 × 15 in (46.4 × 38.1 cm)
Auction Estimate:$3,000 - $4,000
Sale date:November 19, 2019
Price Realized
$2,360
(including Buyer's Premium)
Provenance
Miss Helen Norton, Montreal
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Montreal (six month loan from Miss Norton, November, 1960)
Galerie Valentin, Montreal
Private Collection, Montreal
To overcome the anxieties of the war taking place in Europe, Frederick Coburn would immerse himself in his art, focusing on landscapes, portraits and floral studies, all executed in his studio in Quebec.
Together with his Belgian wife, the artist Malvina Scheepers, a bouquet of flowers would be arranged, and the couple would paint a finished picture of the still life in one sitting. As with many of his contemporaries, Coburn was heavily influenced by the technique and colouring of the Dutch masters, employing elements of their style in his own work. Coburn demonstrated a depth of understanding for these compositions of flowers, executing a complete and satisfyingly realistic rendition of the still life. The broad background of Gladioli does not intrude upon the central focus of the flower arrangement, drawing the eye to study the detail and freshness of each petal of the flower, articulated by the delicate use of light and shadow throughout the composition.
