TORONTO, CANADA — On November 26, Heffel Fine Art Auction House conducted the highest grossing fine art auction in Canadian history as 157 works of art were offered at the semi-annual live auction. Starring museum-quality works by Group of Seven artist Lawren Harris, Heffel’s international auction achieved sales of $23.4 million, exceeding presale estimates of $10/15 million. Strong competition for major masterpieces from bidders across North America, Europe and Asia resulted in the sale of six individual works for more than $1 million.

Lawren Harris, “Mountain and Glacier,” sold for $4,602,000 CAD and set a new record for Harris works at auction.

This has proven to be an exciting year for Canada’s Lawren Harris, as a retrospective at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, Calif., continues to garner deserved recognition for the artist [See Antiques and The Arts Weekly, November 13, 2015]. “The Idea of North: The Paintings of Lawren Harris,” co-curated by actor and art-lover Steve Martin, made global headlines and brought the Group of Seven artist into the international spotlight.

Lawren Harris, “Winter Landscape,” brought $3,658,000 CAD.

Harris led the auction with the sale of three works, totaling $9,499,000. The first of the two major canvases, “Winter Landscape” broke the previous artist record, which stood only for a short time before the commanding “Mountain and Glacier” sold for $4,602,000, setting a new artist record for Harris. The work became the second most valuable Canadian work of art ever sold at auction. “Winter in the Ward realized “$1,121,000. Inclusive of this sale, Heffel has sold works by Lawren Harris totaling $63,869,893.

Lawren Harris, “Winter in the Ward,” fetched $1,121,000 CAD.

Prices reported are in Canadian dollars and include the buyer’s premium.