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 Clarence Alphonse Gagnon, Ice Harvest, Quebec, 1935
Lot #117
CLARENCE ALPHONSE GAGNON
Ice Harvest, Quebec, 1935

oil on canvas
signed lower right; Lucile Rodier Gagnon Inventory no. 190
25 x 36 ins ( 63.5 x 91.4 cms )

Auction Estimate: $600,000.00$400,000.00 - $600,000.00

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 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 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 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 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

Sale Date: December 6th 2023

Artwork by Robert Clow Todd, Corbeau at Montmorency Falls
Lot #154
ROBERT CLOW TODD
Corbeau at Montmorency Falls

oil on canvas
signed, titled and dated 1845 towards lower left
21 x 26.5 ins ( 53.3 x 67.3 cms )

Auction Estimate: $250,000.00$150,000.00 - $250,000.00

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 Franklin Carmichael, Winter, 1916
Lot #120
FRANKLIN CARMICHAEL
Winter, 1916

oil on board
signed and dated 1916 lower right; titled “Down in the Valley, 1916” on a label on the reverse
22 x 23.75 ins ( 55.9 x 60.3 cms )

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

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

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

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 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 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 David Brown Milne, Outlet of the Pond, Late Afternoon, 1926
Lot #119
DAVID BROWN MILNE
Outlet of the Pond, Late Afternoon, 1926

oil on canvas
signed and dated 1926 upper right; titled on the exhibition label on the reverse; titled and dated “Landscape, Temagami Period, 1928” on the gallery label on the reverse; Milne catalogue raisonné no. 207.80
18.25 x 22 ins ( 46.4 x 55.9 cms )

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

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

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 Ozias Leduc, Les foins (The Hayfield), 1901
Lot #112
OZIAS LEDUC
Les foins (The Hayfield), 1901

oil on canvas
signed and dated 1901 lower right
24 x 36 ins ( 61 x 91.4 cms )

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

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 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

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

Register to Bid (Telephone or Absentee)

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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Please Note: All bidding through the Auction Mobility site and apps is subject to a 21% Buyer's Premium

Auction Catalogue

Our auction catalogues are available for order or for download in PDF format. Select a button below to get a copy of our 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