Gallery puts artists’ masterpieces on display
Rare paintings by Picasso, Carr make stop in city as part of pre-auction tour
Calgarians have the rare chance to view the work of some of the world’s most treasured artists, albeit briefly.
Heffel Fine Art Auction House has 113 works of art up for auction in Toronto on Nov. 20, worth upwards of $25 million.
But before that, the auction house is touring some of the paintings to stimulate interest. From Oct. 17 to 19, a selection of these masterpieces will be shown in Calgary at Heffel Gallery, at 609 888 4th Ave. S.W.
On display here will be:
• A museum-quality canvas by
Pablo Picasso, depicting one of his most iconic subjects, Dora Maar, in a hat. Femme au chapeau is a 1941 oil on canvas consigned from a prominent European collection. Heffel says Picasso’s canvases are among the most sought after on the international art market.
The work is expected to sell for more than $8 million and has never before been displayed in Canada.
• A rare canvas by B.C. artist
Emily Carr depicting a First Nations village, painted in 1912. Street, Alert Bay is the first major Carr canvas to come to market in years. When Carr returned in 1911 from France, she made it her life’s mission to document B.C.’S coastal First Nations villages. This masterpiece, painted in 1912, is one of the most historically significant works by the artist ever offered for sale. It is expected to fetch $2
million to $3 million.
• Mountain Sketch LXX, a quintessential
Rockies painting by Group of Seven founder Lawren Harris. It was consigned by actor and art collector Steve Martin, who is a noted fan of Harris’s work. It is expected to sell for $300,000 to $500,000.
Other artists represented include A.Y. Jackson, Jean Paul Riopelle, J.W. Morrice, Jack Bush and sculptor Barbara Hepworth.
The preview is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. It then moves to Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto.