Set of six tiger maple cane bottom chairs, $1,860.
Gagnon Landscape Brings $44,850 at Skinner
By Bob Jackman
BOSTON. MASS. – On September 7 a Clarence Alphonse Gagnon (Canadian, 1881-1942) winter landscape sold for $44,850 at Skinner’s American and European Painting auction.
The deep winter scene was painted from a steep hill overlooking small village next to a large river that was only partially frozen – possibly the St. Lawrence River. A horse-drawn sleigh descended the hill and passed before a cabin with orange eaves and a steeply pitcher roof.
The painting evoked a sense of winter playground. It featured bright colors such as orange on the sleigh and house, light greens on the river, and light blue on the more distant mountain downriver.
The painting may have been painted on location. The small size of the painting (9 3/4 by 7 1/4 inches), quick brushstrokes, and the medium (oil on canvasboard) are consistent with works painted on location.
The painting was examined during the preview and appeared to be in fine condition. Apparently it was never cleaned since the thin deposits of grime appeared untouched, and they were so thin that cleaning was not necessary.
The painting was won by a Toronto collector. “I have bought from Skinner in the past through the catalog, but this is the first time I have attended one of their auctions,” he commented. “Gagnon is considered one of Canada’s foremost Impressionist painters, and I own one other painting by him. It was a sketch done for a much larger canvas that is now in the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa. Most of his paintings are the 6 by 9-inch range, so this is a typical size painting for him.”
Total sales for the auction were $1,123, 608 with 69 percent of lots selling. A full report of this sale will follow in an upcoming issue.
