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LOT 003

CSPWC OC OSA RCA
1910 - 2010
Canadian

The Esplanade Mountains
oil on canvas, 1993
signed and on verso titled and inscribed "930721"
36 x 48 in, 91.4 x 121.9 cm

Estimate: $25,000 - $35,000 CAD

Sold for: $25,000

Preview at:

PROVENANCE
Private Collection, Alberta

LITERATURE
William Moore and Stuart Reid, Celebrating Life: The Art of Doris McCarthy, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 1999, page 205


Doris McCarthy’s first trip to the Canadian Rockies was in 1937, to Edith and Maligne Lakes, and she was struck by the majesty of the region. Later, she returned yearly from 1974 to 1980, painting at such stunning locations as Banff, Golden and Jasper, and visited again in 1983, 1990, 1992 and 1993. This striking scene of the Esplanade Mountains in Jasper National Park reveals their peaks exposed by the summer melt, their rocky “bones” sculpted by wind and glaciers, while lower down, their flanks, clothed by green growth, descend to the river.

McCarthy’s admiration for the Group of Seven, particularly Lawren Harris, can be observed in her work. She was inspired by his use of sculpted forms pared to their essential shapes, seen in her depiction of these peaks many decades after meeting Harris. The serenity of these towering peaks is McCarthy’s vision of how they feel to her – which is inspirational. Their reflection in the river gives a sense of depth, a dreamlike space in which the mountains extend below the surface of the land as well as above. The Esplanade Mountains expresses McCarthy’s communion with the beauty and power of the Rockies. As William Moore wrote, “What McCarthy brings to the history of landscape painting in Canada is her vision of place.”


Estimate: $25,000 - $35,000 CAD

All prices are in Canadian Dollars


Although great care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information posted, errors and omissions may occur. All bids are subject to our Terms and Conditions of Business. Bidders must ensure they have satisfied themselves with the condition of the Lot prior to bidding. Condition reports are available upon request.