An Important Private Collection of Canadian Art (Session 2)

Following two record-breaking sessions, it is our privilege to offer the third and final instalment of artworks from an Important Private Collection of Canadian Art this fall. The grouping of rare and remarkable historical artwork, most of which is making its auction debut with Cowley Abbott this season, is part of a two-session live auction event on December 6th at Toronto’s Globe & Mail Centre. 

In-Person, Absentee, Telephone and Real-Time Online Bidding is available to collectors for participation in this auction. Purchased artwork is subject to the 20% Buyer's Premium (21% if purchased via Auction Mobility's interface) and applicable taxes. Further details regarding buying with Cowley Abbott can be found by referring to our Conditions of Sale and the "How to Purchase" page.

Artwork by James Edward Hervey MacDonald, Laurentian Hillside, October 1914
Lot #121
JAMES EDWARD HERVEY MACDONALD
Laurentian Hillside, October 1914

oil on canvas
signed and dated 1914 lower right; inscribed “$850.00” on the reverse
30.25 x 40.5 ins ( 76.8 x 102.9 cms )

Sale closed.

Artwork by James Edward Hervey MacDonald, Laurentian Hillside, 1913
Lot #122
JAMES EDWARD HERVEY MACDONALD
Laurentian Hillside, 1913

oil on book binder’s board
initialed lower left; signed and inscribed “Sketch for Laurentian Hillside” on the reverse
6 x 8 ins ( 15.2 x 20.3 cms )

Sale closed.

Artwork by Edwin Headley Holgate, Autumn Tangle
Lot #123
EDWIN HEADLEY HOLGATE
Autumn Tangle

oil on canvas
signed lower left
12.5 x 14.5 ins ( 31.8 x 36.8 cms )

Auction Estimate: $50,000.00$30,000.00 - $50,000.00
Price Realized $78,000.00
Sale date: December 6th 2023

Artwork by Lawren Stewart Harris, Lake Superior Sketch no. 3
Lot #124
LAWREN STEWART HARRIS
Lake Superior Sketch no. 3

oil on beaverboard
signed, titled and dated c.1926 on a label on the reverse: inscribed “This is an authentic sketch by Lawren Harris made at Lake Superior about 1926. A.J. Casson May 8, 1973” and “4/3” on the reverse
12 x 15 ins ( 30.5 x 38.1 cms )

Auction Estimate: $500,000.00$300,000.00 - $500,000.00
Price Realized $624,000.00
Sale date: December 6th 2023

Artwork by Albert Henry Robinson, Opulent Autumn, St. Geneviève
Lot #125
ALBERT HENRY ROBINSON
Opulent Autumn, St. Geneviève

oil on panel
signed lower left and titled lower right
11 x 13 ins ( 27.9 x 33 cms )

Auction Estimate: $35,000.00$25,000.00 - $35,000.00
Price Realized $48,000.00
Sale date: December 6th 2023

Artwork by Alexander Young Jackson, Montreal River, Algoma, 1919
Lot #126
ALEXANDER YOUNG JACKSON
Montreal River, Algoma, 1919

oil on wood
signed lower left; signed, titled, dated 1919 and inscribed “35.00” on the reverse; inscribed “To Jane Stewart Fifteen Years Since Oct. 25. 1924”; inscribed “Told us this was the exact spot from when J. E. MacDonald painted ‘The Solemn Land’”; NJG Inventory No. 2405 on the reverse
8.5 x 10.5 ins ( 21.6 x 26.7 cms )

Auction Estimate: $40,000.00$30,000.00 - $40,000.00
Price Realized $72,000.00
Sale date: December 6th 2023

Artwork by Cornelius Krieghoff, The Mid-day Halt, circa 1860
Lot #127
CORNELIUS KRIEGHOFF
The Mid-day Halt, circa 1860

oil on canvas
signed lower left
13 x 18 ins ( 33 x 45.7 cms )

Auction Estimate: $60,000.00$40,000.00 - $60,000.00
Price Realized $60,000.00
Sale date: December 6th 2023

Artwork by William Raphael, Encampment by the River, 1871
Lot #128
WILLIAM RAPHAEL
Encampment by the River, 1871

oil on canvas
signed and dated 1871 lower left
11 x 16.5 ins ( 27.9 x 41.9 cms )

Auction Estimate: $15,000.00$10,000.00 - $15,000.00
Price Realized $57,600.00
Sale date: December 6th 2023

Artwork by Emily Carr, Nirvana
Lot #129
EMILY CARR
Nirvana

oil on paper, mounted on canvas
35.25 x 20.25 ins ( 89.5 x 51.4 cms )

Auction Estimate: $350,000.00$250,000.00 - $350,000.00
Price Realized $744,000.00
Sale date: December 6th 2023

Artwork by Robert Harris, The Skipper’s Daughter, 1908
Lot #130
ROBERT HARRIS
The Skipper’s Daughter, 1908

oil on canvas
signed lower left; titled on the stretcher on the reverse
24 x 30 ins ( 61 x 76.2 cms )

Auction Estimate: $18,000.00$15,000.00 - $18,000.00
Price Realized $66,000.00
Sale date: December 6th 2023

Artwork by Charlotte Mount Brock Schreiber, Don’t Be Afraid
Lot #131
CHARLOTTE MOUNT BROCK SCHREIBER
Don’t Be Afraid

oil on canvas
titled and dated circa 1878 on the exhibition labels on the reverse
32.25 x 43 ins ( 81.9 x 109.2 cms )

Auction Estimate: $150,000.00$100,000.00 - $150,000.00
Price Realized $624,000.00
Sale date: December 6th 2023

Artwork by Charlotte Mount Brock Schreiber, Study for Don’t Be Afraid, circa 1878
Lot #132
CHARLOTTE MOUNT BROCK SCHREIBER
Study for Don’t Be Afraid, circa 1878

oil on paper laid down on paper
8 x 10 ins ( 20.3 x 25.4 cms )

Auction Estimate: $30,000.00$20,000.00 - $30,000.00
Price Realized $19,200.00
Sale date: December 6th 2023

Artwork by James Wilson Morrice, Portrait, circa 1896-1897
Lot #133
JAMES WILSON MORRICE
Portrait, circa 1896-1897

oil on panel
signed lower left; inscribed “Portrait of the Director of the International Exposition (Exhibition) in Venice 1904-1908 attribution by Clarence Gagnon R.C.A” on a label on the reverse
9.5 x 6.5 ins ( 24.1 x 16.5 cms )

Auction Estimate: $50,000.00$30,000.00 - $50,000.00
Price Realized $66,000.00
Sale date: December 6th 2023

Artwork by Paul Peel, The Young Biologist, 1891
Lot #134
PAUL PEEL
The Young Biologist, 1891

oil on canvas
signed lower left
18.25 x 15 ins ( 46.4 x 38.1 cms )

Auction Estimate: $150,000.00$100,000.00 - $150,000.00
Price Realized $144,000.00
Sale date: December 6th 2023

Artwork by Frederick Horsman Varley, Jess (1950)
Lot #135
FREDERICK HORSMAN VARLEY
Jess (1950)

oil on canvas
signed upper right (vertically), with artist’s thumb-print beneath; Varley Inventory No. 450 (twice) on the reverse
22 x 16 ins ( 55.9 x 40.6 cms )

Auction Estimate: $80,000.00$60,000.00 - $80,000.00
Price Realized $60,000.00
Sale date: December 6th 2023

Artwork by Robert Harris, Self-Portrait
Lot #136
ROBERT HARRIS
Self-Portrait

oil on board
signed and dated ‘2 June 1908” lower left; signed, titled and dated on a gallery label on the backing on the reverse
13.25 x 10.5 ins ( 33.7 x 26.7 cms )

Auction Estimate: $7,000.00$5,000.00 - $7,000.00
Price Realized $5,520.00
Sale date: December 6th 2023

Artwork by Ozias Leduc, Portrait de Rodolphe Brunet
Lot #137
OZIAS LEDUC
Portrait de Rodolphe Brunet

oil on board
signed and dated 1897 towards middle right along the edge; signed, titled and dated on multiple gallery labels on the backing on the reverse
11 x 8.5 ins ( 27.9 x 21.6 cms )

Auction Estimate: $7,000.00$5,000.00 - $7,000.00
Price Realized $9,000.00
Sale date: December 6th 2023

Artwork by John Wentworth Russell, The Dancer
Lot #138
JOHN WENTWORTH RUSSELL
The Dancer

oil on board
signed lower right; titled and dated circa 1925 on the gallery label on the reverse; with an unfinished pencil sketch of two figures on the reverse
10.5 x 8.5 ins ( 26.7 x 21.6 cms )

Auction Estimate: $3,500.00$2,500.00 - $3,500.00
Price Realized $2,640.00
Sale date: December 6th 2023

Artwork by Ozias Leduc, Madame Louise Lecours, née Higgins, 1916
Lot #139
OZIAS LEDUC
Madame Louise Lecours, née Higgins, 1916

bronze
signed and dated middle right towards the edge; titled around the edge
8.75 x ins ( 22.2 x 0 cms ) ( diameter )

Auction Estimate: $3,500.00$2,500.00 - $3,500.00
Price Realized $2,400.00
Sale date: December 6th 2023

Artwork by Helen Galloway McNicoll, The Chintz Sofa, circa 1912
Lot #140
HELEN GALLOWAY MCNICOLL
The Chintz Sofa, circa 1912

oil on canvas
signed lower left; studio stamp and titled on the reverse
31.75 x 39 ins ( 80.6 x 99.1 cms )

Auction Estimate: $350,000.00$250,000.00 - $350,000.00
Price Realized $888,000.00
Sale date: December 6th 2023

Fall Live Auction

Session 1
Important Canadian & International Art
Lots 1-100
Wednesday December 6th at 4:00 pm EST
The Globe & Mail Centre, 17th Floor
351 King Street East, Toronto
View Auction Listing
View the E-Catalogue
Order a Catalogue

Session 2
An Important Private Collection of Canadian Art - Part III
Lots 101-154
Wednesday December 6th at 7:00 pm EST
The Globe & Mail Centre, 17th Floor
351 King Street East, Toronto
View Auction Listing
View the E-Catalogue
Order a Catalogue

Fall Live Auction Previews

November 15th to December 6th
Weekdays: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Saturdays & Sundays: 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
Cowley Abbott Gallery
326 Dundas Street West, Toronto
Schedule a Viewing in Toronto

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To participate in our auction by telephone or absentee bid, please register below. You may also download a bid form and email a completed copy to [email protected] Bidding registration must be submitted by 12:00 Noon EST on Wednesday, December 6th

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Bidding registration must be submitted by 12:00 Noon EST on Wednesday, December 6th

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Auction Catalogue

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Current & Upcoming Auctions

Important Canadian & International Art (Session 1)

Live Auction
Session 1 of the Fall Live Auction Season
Wednesday, December 6th at 4:00 pm
Globe & Mail Centre, Toronto

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Artists in this Sale