Emily Carr, Lawren Harris works to go up for auction in Toronto
Live auction of 142 works expected to fetch up to $11M in Toronto Thursday night
A cache of Canadian masterpieces goes on the auction block Thursday night, offering art collectors the chance to own museum-quality fine art.
The Heffel Fine Art Auction House in Toronto is offering a collection of 142 lots up for sale at its live fall auction. Conservative estimates predict the entire collection will fetch $8 million to $11 million.
The highlights include five works by Emily Carr, including Totem Poles. The oil on board is one of her most famous works and is expected to fetch around a half million dollars.
David Heffel, president of Heffel Fine Art Auction House, says works by Emily Carr are the foundation of his business.
"We've sold a number of fantastic Emily Carrs," said Heffel. "She's getting a lot of attention right now."
Carr's iconic painting The Crazy Stair broke records last year when it earned $3.39 million at a Heffel auction last year. The first major British exhibit of Carr's work is currently on at the Dulwich Picture Gallery in London.
Thursday's auction also includes five works from Jean Paul Riopelle, and three works from Group of Seven artist Lawren Harris.
A painting by Clarence Gagnon, Paysage de Charlevoix, is expected to fetch upwards of $175,000. It's up for sale for the first and only time since 1948, when it was given by the artist as a wedding gift.
Previews of the art were held in Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto earlier this month.