Onward Ranch Landscape

Acquired directly from the artist by Vivien Cowan, British Columbia By descent to the present Private Collection, British Columbia

A.Y. Jackson, “A Painter’s Country: The Autobiography of A.Y. Jackson”, Toronto, 1958, page 151 Sheryl Salloum, “Sonia: The Life of Bohemian, Rancher and Artist Sonia Cornwall 1919-2006”, British Columbia, 2015, pages 85-86

The landscape of the Cariboo region in British Columbia is one of sumptuous variety, with wide valleys, rolling hills, old ranches, gold mines, rivers, lakes and forests. Onward Ranch Landscape by A.Y. Jackson illustrates the vivid colours, rhythmic flow and texture of Cariboo country. The struggling vegetation and rugged topography of the area may not be considered picturesque by some. However, Jackson’s painterly eye transformed this setting into a pastoral scene of undulating hills capped by lush woods and filtered by the warm glow of the sun. Jackson fondly recalled his time spent roaming the countryside around Onward Ranch in Cariboo - “I found the intimate stuff more paintable, the creeks and the little lakes, the patches of small poplar or aspen growing in circular groups.” During one of Jackson’s visits to Onward Ranch to stay with the Cowan family in 1945, the Cariboo Arts Society was formed. Jackson, Vivien Cowan and her daughter, Sonia, founded this artistic society, placing Jackson as the honorary president. This society would become one of western Canada’s longest running creative hubs. Jackson formed a lasting friendship with the Cowan family, specifically Sonia, who he corresponded with until his death in 1974. As Jackson’s niece Naomi Jackson Groves shared, “Jackson ‘loved it there’ in the Cariboo.” We are delighted to feature a second painting acquired from Jackson by Vivien Cowan - “Onward Ranch” (Lot 67).