Heffel’s Fall sale of 135 works made $22.7m CAD with two works breaking $2m and two more selling for more than $1m with an additonal nine works totaling more than $500k. Here are some of the highlights:
- Historic painting depicting Frederick Banting’s insulin laboratory sold for $313,250, ten times its presale estimate
- Fishboats, Rivers Inlet, a masterpiece canvas by E.J. Hughes shattered the artist record and sold for $2,041,250 (est. $900,000 – 1,200,000). The canvas was first sold by Heffel in 2004 for $920,000 and the artist himself joined the sale room to share in the moment.
- Four outstanding works by Jean Paul Riopelle led the Post-War & Contemporary Art sale and totaled $4,138,750. The 1953 drip canvas, Jouet (above) achieved a remarkable $2,881,250 (est. $1,200,000 – 1,600,000), followed by Lances for $871,250 (est. $200,000 – 250,000) and Mi-chemin for $361,250 (est. $250,000 – 350,000).
- Mountain Sketch XC, a glowing work by Lawren Harris broke the million dollar mark and sold for $1,381,250 (est. $700,000 – 900,000). A second Rocky Mountain oil on board, Mount Unwin and Charlton – Maligne Lake, Jasper, sold for an noteworthy $421,250 (est. $200,000 – 300,000).
- Three highly collectible canvases by Colombian artist Fernando Botero sold for a total of $2,163,750. Femme debout and Toro each brought in $811,250 (est. $500,000 – 700,000 and $450,000 – 650,000, respectively) and Seated Man went for $541,250 (est. $400,000 – 600,000).
- Two exceptional examples by Quebec-born Jean Paul Lemieux fetched notable results. Les citadens sold for $1,081,250 (est. $900,000 – 1,200,000) and Jeune fille en uniforme, consigned from the Alma Mater Society of the University of British Columbia, sold for $361,250 (est. $300,000 – 500,000).
- Significant interest in two canvases by Emily Carr drove their prices beyond presale estimates. Spring Wave went for a final price of $511,250 (est. $300,000 – 500,000) and By the Canal, Crécy-en-Brie went for $181,250 (est. $80,000 – 120,000).
- Paintings by the internationally renowned Alex Colville are rare to the market and highly sought-after. Two Boys Playing, a work depicting the artist’s sons, sold for $721,250 (est. $600,000 – 800,000) and Chaplain, another fantastic example, achieved $541,250 (est. $500,000 – 700,000).
- Important works by all original members of the Group of Seven were offered in the fall auction, highlighted by Arthur Lismer’s extraordinary Tugs and Troop Carrier, Halifax Harbour, Nova Scotia which sold for $781,250 (est. $700,000 – 900,000) and A.Y. Jackson’s stunning November, Georgian Bay, which sold for $631,250 (est. $400,000 – 600,000).
- Sybil Andrews’s Boats at Dock was picked up at a British Columbia thrift store for quite a bargain. It was purchased for $69.95, less a 30% seniors’ discount and sold tonight for $52,250 (est. $20,000 – 50,000).
- Four artist records were broken in the fall auction including the sale of Preserving Summer – Black Currant Jam by Mary Pratt for $133,250 (est. $30,000 – $40,000) and House in August by Christopher Pratt for $253,250 (est. $80,000 – $120,000).
