Sold for: $26,325

PROVENANCE
Dominion Gallery, Montreal
An Important Private Estate, Montreal

LITERATURE
Guy Robert, La Peinture au Québec, 1978, a similar 1951 work entitled Tête de femme reproduced page 120
Jules Bazin, Cosgrove, 1980, page 16

Stanley Cosgrove specialized in three primary areas of subject matter – still lifes, forests and female portraits. Throughout these different subjects, Cosgrove maintained a muted colour palette and simplistic forms. Female portraiture was clearly one of his strengths, and the woman in this work evokes a quiet sensuality through her relaxed expression and simple attire. Jules Bazin wrote: “Cosgrove is very gifted in portraiture but he never wanted to restrict himself to this because he would not like anyone to interfere in his work and squabble over their resemblance.” Similar to his contemporary Jean Paul Lemieux, Cosgrove’s faces are often ambiguous and without a concrete identity. In La robe rouge, the woman holds a subtle, confident expression with a slightly diverted glance, which showcases Cosgrove’s sensitivity to feminine beauty. The year 1953 was significant for Cosgrove, as he was awarded a government fellowship to study in France for a year with William Goodridge Roberts. This work contains a European essence in that the elongated neck, striking eyes and prominent nose offer similarities to the portraits of Italian master Amedeo Clemente Modigliani.

All prices are in Canadian Dollars