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Could this painting become the most expensive piece of Canadian art ever?

A painting by Group of Seven artist Lawren Harris could become the most expensive work of Canadian art ever sold at auction, if it breaks the record of $5.06 million set in 2002.

Lawren Harris's 'Mountain Forms' expected to fetch record-breaking price at auction next month

Karin Larsen · CBC News ·
Mountain Forms, an iconic 1926 Rocky Mountain canvas by Group of Seven founder Lawren Harris, will be sold by Heffel Fine Art Auction House on Nov. 23, 2016. The work was recently part of The Idea of North, Steve Martin's show celebrating the art of Lawren Harris. (Heffel Fine Art Auction House)

It's very Canadian of Robert Heffel to use a hockey analogy to describe what will likely happen next month when the Group of Seven masterpiece Mountain Forms hits the auction block: 

"Even Wayne Gretzky's records get broken," said Heffel, owner of the Vancouver-based fine art auction house that bears his name. "All records get broken eventually."

The striking and sizable work by Lawren Harris is conservatively projected to sell for between $3 and $5 million, but if recent history is any indication, the painting will likely go for twice as much, easily breaking the long-standing record for most expensive work of Canadian art ever sold at auction.

That's currently held by a Paul Kane oil painting purchased by a buyer for $5.06 million in 2002.

Steve Martin was co-curator of the exhibit entitled The Idea of North: The Paintings of Lawren Harris. (Laura Thompson/CBC)

Providing an even bigger bump for Mountain Forms is that fact that it recently toured North America to rave reviews as part of a Harris exhibit that was co-curated by comedian Steve Martin.

"When you see this painting in real life, it's stunning. Every indication is this painting is going to do very, very well," said Heffel.

Peter and Joanne Brown Collection

The untimely death of Tom Thomson, who heavily influenced the legendary Group of Seven, makes his works rare to the auction market. This work is estimated to sell for between $1 million and $1.5 million. (Heffel Fine Art Auction House)

Also hitting the auction block the same day are a number of prominent Canadian works owned by Vancouver businessman Peter Brown and his wife Joanne.

Country Crisis is considered by many to be Group of Seven artist A.J. Casson’s most famous work. It is estimated to sell for between $600,000 and $800,000. (Heffel Fine Art Auction House)

Brown, the founder of financial firm Canaccord Genuity, is selling off what Heffel describes as "one of a handful of significant art collections in Canada."

Emily Carr's Alert Bay (with Welcome Figure) features vibrant colours influenced by her time studying in Paris. Estimate: $900,000 – 1,200,000. (Heffel Fine Art Auction House)

"Peter and Joanne have their own catalogue ... the first time in our history that we've ever done that for a single owner sale," said Heffel. 

Heffel said the 90 works are valued between $12 million and $17 million and represent about one-third of the Browns' collection.

Vancouver businessman Peter Brown is auctioning off 90 works from his significant collection, including the Bill Reid carving seen in this photo. (peterbrowncapital.com)

The catalogue includes work by every Group of Seven artist, Emily Carr and carver Bill Reid.

"The Browns always knew they were just custodians of these paintings and they always knew they would move on," he said.

Vancouverites can check out the Brown collection and Mountain Forms for themselves at the auction preview, which runs Saturday Oct. 29 through Nov. 1 at the Heffel Gallery, 2247 Granville St. 

Gaspésie by Marc-Aurele Fortin's is estimated to sell for between $700,000 and $900,000. (Heffel Fine Art Auction House)

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