Sold for: $4,720

PROVENANCE
Private Collection, Vancouver

Walter J. Phillips’s watercolours were executed with the utmost technical perfection. His mastery of the unforgiving medium of watercolour was consistent and precise. He was never hesitant or fumbling in his brushwork, and the results are some of the finest watercolours produced in Canadian art history.

In Bazan Bay, Vancouver Island, Phillips has devoted most of his attention to studying the sky. In this North Saanich region of British Columbia’s Vancouver Island, clouds are often heavy, and mist is a daily occurrence. Phillips has composed the scene so as to expose only the rooftops and chimneys of the houses. The up-thrusting chimney-stacks serve to accent the horizontal movement of the work with contrasting red, but our focus remains on the landscape and the sky: the former a swath of green lushness accented with trees to border the scene, the latter an essay in cloud pattern. Executed with precise control of wet-on-wet blue sky, and wet-on-dry grey cloud, the sky is particularly fine. Below it, distant islands blend into the ocean and roll in the mist.

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.