CGP CSGA FCA
1907 - 2000
Canadian
Hockey Melee
oil on canvas
signed and dated 1941 and on verso titled and inscribed "CGP, AGT 42, Art Association of Montreal" / "502" / "Box 5 - 42 March 2"
36 x 42 in, 91.4 x 106.7 cm
Estimate: $12,000 - $16,000 CAD
Sold for: $16,250
Preview at:
PROVENANCE
Estate of the Artist, Detroit
Important Canadian Art, Sotheby's Canada in association with Ritchies, May 31, 2004, lot 35
Private Collection, United States
Post-War & Contemporary Art, Heffel Fine Art Auction House, May 25, 2016, lot 036
Private Collection, British Columbia
LITERATURE
Ted Fraser, A Retrospective Exhibition of Selected Works by Caven Atkins Spanning Fifty Years of the Artist's Life, Art Gallery of Windsor, 1975
EXHIBITED
Art Gallery of Toronto and the Art Association of Montreal, Canadian Group of Painters, 1942
Art Gallery of Windsor, A Retrospective Exhibition of Selected Works by Caven Atkins Spanning Fifty Years of the Artist's Life, September 23 - October 28, 1979, catalogue #23
Despite our love of the game, depictions of historical hockey games are rare in Canadian art history. This scene depicts the Boston Bruins, winners of the 1941 Stanley Cup, in a valiant struggle to defend their goalie. Player #17 is Bobby Bauer, #8 Des Smith, and the figure that seems to be player #5, whom we can just see at the back of the melee, is either team captain Aubrey “Dit” Clapper or player #15, Milt Schmidt. Bruins goalie #1 Frank Brimsek dives into the net. The 1941 Stanley Cup semifinals featured the Boston Bruins against the Toronto Maple Leafs, but not enough detail is seen of the opposing team’s jerseys to be certain of the match depicted. In 1941 Canada had been at war for almost two years, which profoundly affected all aspects of life, including sports. Team rosters had dwindled to single digits, and only seven teams played in the National Hockey League that year. Capturing a rare moment in art and sport history, Hockey Melee is an outstanding work, depicting the rough-and-tumble of the struggle at the goal line with strength and surety.
All prices are in Canadian Dollars
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