It was thought that a painting to be auctioned yesterday might set a new record sale price for Canadian art. Before last night’s auction, a Lawren Harris painting was estimated to sell between 3 and five million including the sales commission.
The previous record was set in 2002 when an 1845 Paul Kane oil-on-canvas painting called, “Scene in the Northwest – Portrait” sold for just over $5 million including buyers premium.
Harris was the founder of the iconic Canadian group of artists known as the Group of Seven, especially known for their dramatic renderings of natural landscapes.
The particular Harris painting Mountain Forms, a 152.4 x 178.8 cm oil on canvas, is a depiction of Mount Ishbel in the Sawback Range in the Rocky Mountains.
Old record price smashed
Before the auction, British art historian Ian Dejardin has said Canadian art is ripe for a breakout. He had curated critically acclaimed exhibitions Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven as well as Emily Carr. These were shows that introduced Canadians to many new admirers, inspired lengthy queues, drew raves from attendees and also moved on to other European galleries.
When the hammer dropped last night for Harris’ Mountain forms the old price record was smashed. An anonymous buyer bid $9.5 million, and with the commission, went for $11.2 million.
Other works such as William Kurelek’s “Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man” estimated at $C300-350-thousand, went for $531,000 with the commission.
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