Collectors from around the world pursued Canada’s most legendary artists at a watershed live auction that shattered records for this country’s masterworks.
Major paintings by the Group of Seven and Tom Thomson contributed to the evening’s overall total of $22 million. Three historic Group of Seven canvases by Lawren Harris, Franklin Carmichael and Arthur Lismer, consigned from the storied University Club of Toronto, led the sale by Heffel Fine Art Auction House.
Leaf Pattern (above), the 1922 canvas by Carmichael, shattered both its presale estimate and the artist’s auction record and sold for $2,281,250 (est. $700,000 – 900,000).
McGregor Bay Islands by Group of Seven artist Arthur Lismer achieved an exceptional price of $1,621,250, setting an auction record for the artist and marking Lismer’s entry first entry into the million-dollar club. Widely exhibited and long held at the University Club of Toronto, the canvas stands as one of Lismer’s most important works and a quintessential example of the Group of Seven’s vision (est. $600,000 – $800,000).
“Tonight was a true celebration of Canada,” said Robert Heffel, Vice President of Heffel. “To see such exceptional works by our country’s iconic artists resonate so deeply with collectors is incredibly rewarding.”
For all results, and all paintings, go to the Heffel Auction site, here.
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[…] Actor-comedian Steve Martin’s curation of Lawren Harris paintings, thought to have kicked off the skyrocketing prices for Group of Seven and other Canadian works, here. (Record auction of Canadian art, here) […]
Not just the Steve Martin influence stimulating world interest, but also the even earlier Dulwich Picture Gallery exhibition in London — which you blogged about in November 2011. Perhaps our current “elbows-up” political stature also makes Canadiana attractive?
You know I am such a Canadian, I felt awkward speculating that our current elbows up approach makes us noticeable . . . in that most of us don’t try to be front and centre (if that isn’t a trope!) Anyway, with you on all counts.
Wow, 22 million. Do you know where the people came from who were purchasing the most, ie a country outside of Canada? Curious…
Not sure what the breakdown was but definitely global purchasers were involved. After Steve Martin (an art collector as well as a comedian) debuted his amazing Group of Seven (Lawren Harris) exhibition in LA a few years ago, value of those artists to non-Canadian collectors appears to have gone up (and up)
The art is beautiful!!