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 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

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

Sale Date: December 6th 2023

Artwork by Lawren Stewart Harris, Small Lake in Algoma, 1920
Lot #104
LAWREN STEWART HARRIS
Small Lake in Algoma, 1920

oil on wood panel
inscribed “Small lake in Algoma” twice, “$50.00” and “Norah Bouillianne” on the reverse; dated circa 1920 on the exhibition label on the reverse
10.5 x 14 ins ( 26.7 x 35.6 cms )

Auction Estimate: $150,000.00$100,000.00 - $150,000.00

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

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

Sale Date: December 6th 2023

Artwork by Alexander Young Jackson, Morning, Agawa River, 1919
Lot #103
ALEXANDER YOUNG JACKSON
Morning, Agawa River, 1919

oil on wood
signed lower right: signed, titled and dated “September ‘19 and 1920” on the reverse; inscribed “Algoma” on the reverse; NJG Inventory No. 2404
8.25 x 10 ins ( 21 x 25.4 cms )

Auction Estimate: $40,000.00$30,000.00 - $40,000.00

Sale Date: December 6th 2023

Artwork by Arthur Lismer, Ragged Lake, Algonquin Park, May 1914
Lot #108
ARTHUR LISMER
Ragged Lake, Algonquin Park, May 1914

oil on wood panel
signed, titled and dated 1914 on the reverse
12.25 x 9.25 ins ( 31.1 x 23.5 cms )

Auction Estimate: $80,000.00$60,000.00 - $80,000.00

Sale Date: December 6th 2023

Artwork by Arthur Lismer, Ragged Lake, Algonquin Park, 1914
Lot #107
ARTHUR LISMER
Ragged Lake, Algonquin Park, 1914

oil on canvas
signed on a section of the original frame lower right; inscribed “JJIVAUGHAN” on the reverse; titled and dated circa 1914 on a label on the reverse
30 x 22 ins ( 76.2 x 55.9 cms )

Auction Estimate: $350,000.00$250,000.00 - $350,000.00

Sale Date: December 6th 2023

Artwork by William Brymner, Woman with a Book, 1907
Lot #115
WILLIAM BRYMNER
Woman with a Book, 1907

oil on canvas
signed and dated 1907 upper right
28 x 21 ins ( 71.1 x 53.3 cms )

Auction Estimate: $18,000.00$15,000.00 - $18,000.00

Sale Date: December 6th 2023

Artwork by George Agnew Reid, Toronto Waterfront, 1886
Lot #153
GEORGE AGNEW REID
Toronto Waterfront, 1886

oil on canvas
signed and dated 1886 lower left
24 x 36 ins ( 61 x 91.4 cms )

Auction Estimate: $90,000.00$70,000.00 - $90,000.00

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

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

Sale Date: December 6th 2023

Artwork by William Raphael, The Habitant at Home, 1873
Lot #147
WILLIAM RAPHAEL
The Habitant at Home, 1873

oil on paper laid down on cardboard
signed and dated lower right
10.25 x 7.75 ins ( 26 x 19.7 cms )

Auction Estimate: $8,000.00$6,000.00 - $8,000.00

Sale Date: December 6th 2023

Artwork by Frederick Horsman Varley, Sun and Wind, Georgian Bay, 1916 or 1920
Lot #105
FREDERICK HORSMAN VARLEY
Sun and Wind, Georgian Bay, 1916 or 1920

oil on panel, mounted to plywood
signed lower right; titled and dated circa 1915 on the gallery and exhibition labels on the reverse; Varley Inventory Number 1068
12.25 x 16.25 ins ( 31.1 x 41.3 cms )

Auction Estimate: $90,000.00$70,000.00 - $90,000.00

Sale Date: December 6th 2023

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 )

Auction Estimate: $30,000.00$20,000.00 - $30,000.00

Sale Date: December 6th 2023

Artwork by Albert Henry Robinson, La Malbaie
Lot #116
ALBERT HENRY ROBINSON
La Malbaie

oil on canvas
signed lower left and titled lower right
22 x 26.25 ins ( 55.9 x 66.7 cms )

Auction Estimate: $90,000.00$70,000.00 - $90,000.00

Sale Date: December 6th 2023

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 )

Auction Estimate: $350,000.00$250,000.00 - $350,000.00

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

Sale Date: December 6th 2023

Artwork by Maurice Galbraith Cullen, Shipyard at Lévis, 1897
Lot #150
MAURICE GALBRAITH CULLEN
Shipyard at Lévis, 1897

oil on canvas
signed and dated 1897 lower right; titled on multiple gallery labels on the reverse; Cullen Inventory No. 1130
16.25 x 18.25 ins ( 41.3 x 46.4 cms )

Auction Estimate: $60,000.00$40,000.00 - $60,000.00

Sale Date: December 6th 2023

Artwork by Robert Harris, The Unruly Guest (Portraits of Children of G. Stethem, Esq.), 1880
Lot #144
ROBERT HARRIS
The Unruly Guest (Portraits of Children of G. Stethem, Esq.), 1880

oil on canvas
signed lower right; signed and titled on a label on the stretcher on the reverse
36 x 48 ins ( 91.4 x 121.9 cms )

Auction Estimate: $30,000.00$20,000.00 - $30,000.00

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
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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