Sold for: $46,250

PROVENANCE
Galerie Walter Klinkhoff Inc., Montreal
Arthur Leggett Fine Art & Antiques, Toronto
Masters Gallery Ltd., Calgary
Private Collection, Vancouver
Canadian, Impressionist & Modern Art, Heffel Fine Art Auction House, November 21, 2018, lot 153
Private Collection, Quebec

LITERATURE
Paul Duval, Canadian Impressionism, 1990, page 138

Pilot was a master of twilight, that transient time of day when artificial lamps and natural light are joined in the same vibration. That insubstantial effect is at its most magical in winter, when the dominant fields of white reflect both light sources.— Paul Duval

This view of St. John Gate, an entrance to Quebec City’s old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, encapsulates both Robert Pilot’s appreciation of traditional Quebec architecture and his acute sensitivity to atmosphere. The approach of twilight is depicted with a palette dominated by tints of blue and grey, contrasted by the dark beige of the stone and the one bright note of colour—the orange coat of the passerby. Pilot’s treatment of snow is exquisite, depicted softly settled on the buildings and piled at their bases, and especially in the walkway, where the melted, watery surface creates reflections. The air itself seems palpable, with a slight haze—that special greyish light of winter that absorbs subtle pastel notes from the radiance of the city in the sky. The work’s quiet ambience makes this painting an ode to this special part of Quebec City.

All prices are in Canadian Dollars