signed lower right; signed, titled and dated on the artist’s label on the reverse
30 × 37 in (76.2 × 94.0 cm)
Auction Estimate:$70,000 - $90,000
Sale date:May 30, 2024
Price Realized
$78,000
(including Buyer's Premium)
Provenance
Roberts Gallery, Toronto
Private Collection, Toronto
The 1960s proved to be a fruitful period for A.J. Casson. The artist’s association with Roberts Gallery and the six dedicated one-man exhibitions of his work from 1959 to 1979 meant that Casson was able to be free from the constraints of his commercial career to focus on artistic production. In 1967, the year in which "October Afternoon" was painted, Casson was awarded the Silver Centennial Medal and his work was included in "Three Hundred Years of Canadian Art", an exhibition at the National Gallery of Canada.
A.J. Casson’s interest and commitment to depicting the varying landscape of Ontario made him deeply familiar with the land. The distinct seasons in the province meant that Casson’s environment was constantly changing, providing him with ample inspiration and enabling him to render the subtlety of the countryside expertly. This oil depicts the radiant autumnal colours in the hills near Bancroft, a town located on the York River and a popular destination for cottagers in Hastings County.
