Cowley Abbott is pleased to have been entrusted with four dynamic artworks by Marcelle Ferron, one of the most dominant female Quebec artists, in our Fall Live Auction of Important Canadian Art. 

In this video, we discuss the large, vibrant, and dynamic, “Sans titre”, a monumental canvas of 1960. The bold forms move to their own rhythms. At the same time, we can readily feel that they were made by a painter who is moving physically in the space of the canvas. Compellingly animated from a distance, the sweeping forms perform what can be imagined as a perpetual dance of transformation. Close up or standing back, we can appreciate her skillful use of hue, texture, and movement.

We look forward to offering these paintings for sale next Thursday, December 1st at 4:00 pm.

An exceptional 1912 oil on canvas by the celebrated Emily Carr is making its debut at auction with Cowley Abbott on December 1st. Acquired directly from the artist by the renowned Marius Barbeau in 1912, the painting has remained in private collections until now. We are thrilled to be presenting this important artwork to the art market and to provide an incredible opportunity for art lovers to view this masterwork in our gallery in downtown Toronto.

Rob Cowley discusses the importance of this painting, an artwork we are privileged to be entrusted with at Cowley Abbott. Find further details about the artwork here: https://cowleyabbott.ca/artwork/AW41520.

Visit Cowley Abbott this weekend to view the artworks included in our exciting two-session live auction ahead of the auction on Thursday, December 1st.

Rob Cowley visits the CTV Your Morning studio with highlights from the upcoming Cowley Abbott Live Auction of An Important Private Collection of Canadian Art. Thank you for hosting Cowley Abbott, it was a pleasure to share the artworks with Lindsay Deluce!

Learn about this prestigious collection of artworks from a private collection in the auction catalogue: https://cowleyabbott.ca/items/1220.

Eryn Brobyn takes a closer look at a Maud Lewis painting included in our Fall Live Auction of Important Canadian Art and shares why the painting caught her eye.

Lot 22, Maud Lewis, “At the Train Station”, oil on board, 11.5 x 13.5 ins, Estimated: $20,000-30,000, Fall Live Auction of Important Canadian Art, Session 1 – Thursday, December 1st at 4:00 pm

As Perry Tung shares, Jim Dine is an avid printmaker. He sees the medium as artistically equal to the rest of his body of work, which encompasses painting, drawing, sculpture and photography. The artist embraces the deeply personal as we see in “Jim’s Hand Painted One”, which reflects the artist’s childhood obsession with Disney’s Pinocchio. As he explains, “I found a doll of Pinocchio, franchised by Disney at the time of the film. A beautiful doll, with real clothes – I mean cloth clothes – and papier-mâché and hand-painted head, arms, and legs…It’s in pieces in my house. Because it’s just so beat. I’ve done all kinds of things with it. I’ve cast it, I’ve taken it with me. It’s just completely beat. But it was a beautiful thing”.

Lot 240, Jim Dine, “Jim’s Hand Painted One”, lithograph with hand colouring, 66.5 x 38 ins, Fall International Art Auction (Bidding closes November 22nd).

It is incredible to be entrusted with both the canvas and ths sketch for this important painting by J.W. Morrice “Neige, Canada (Snow. Canada)”. This beautiful painting is unlike any other Quebec canvases by the artist, while the sketch is a perfect opportunity to study the astute technique of this wonderful Canadian artist. As Lucie Dorais, Canadian art historian and author of “J.W. Morrice” (National Gallery of Canada, 1985), wrote in her essay on “Neige, Canada (Snow, Canada)”, “The appearance of “Neige, Canada/Snow, Canada” on the market is exceptional; its pairing with its recently discovered preparatory sketch is unique, a first for Morrice!” Do not miss the opportunity to view these exceptional artworks by J.W. Morrice. Visit our gallery to view the artworks and learn more about this interesting artist at CowleyAbbott.ca.

Lot 116. J.W. Morrice “Neige, Canada (Snow, Canada)” (circa 1905), oil on canvas, 18 x 25.75 insEstimated: $400,000-600,000Live Auction of An Important Private Collection of Canadian Art (Session 1)Thursday, December 1st at 7:00 pm (https://cowleyabbott.ca/artwork/AW41523)

Lot 18, J.W. Morrice, “Study for ‘Neige, Canada'”, oil on board, 9.25 x 13 insEstimated: $50,000-70,000Live Auction of Important Canadian Art (Session 2)Thursday, December 1st at 4:00 pm (https://cowleyabbott.ca/artwork/AW39738)

Marcelle Ferron is remembered as a painter, stained-glass designer, and the creator of important public art. Large, vibrant, and dynamic, “Sans titre” is indeed irrepressible. The bold forms move to their own rhythms, which the Cowley Abbott specialists deeply admire. This work has a notable pedigree. It was one of the original paintings commissioned in 1960 for what became The Peter Stuyvesant Collection, a large body of cutting-edge abstract art formed in the Netherlands by Alexander Orlow. This monumental canvas by Ferron will be offered for sale in our exciting two-session live auction on December 1st. https://cowleyabbott.ca/artwork/AW42104

Rob Cowley discusses “Lake Superior-Pic Island” by celebrated Group of Seven artist, Arthur Lismer. Join Rob as he chats about this stunning depiction of a favourite locale by members of the Group. This painting is featured in the Auction of An Important Private Collection of Canadian Art, the second session of the December 1st, 2022 Cowley Abbott Fall Live Auction. You can view details of Arthur Lismer’s “Lake Superior-Pic Island” at this link: https://cowleyabbott.ca/artwork/AW41543

Join Perry Tung as he highlights this exceptional painted and earthenware vase by Pablo Picasso and shares the story of Picasso’s owl. Included in the current International Art Auction. Find further details about the artwork herehttps://cowleyabbott.ca/artwork/AW42199

Lydia Abbott discusses “Neige, Canada (Snow, Canada)” by James Wilson Morrice, a canvas which was first exhibited by the artist more than a century ago. Join Lydia as she chats about the rare Canadian canvas, making its auction debut with Cowley Abbott this fall. This painting is featured in the Auction of An Important Private Collection of Canadian Art, the second session of the December 1st, 2022 Cowley Abbott Fall Live Auction. You can view details of J.W. Morrice’s “Neige, Canada (Snow, Canada)” at this link: https://cowleyabbott.ca/artwork/AW41523