Sold for: $58,500

PROVENANCE
John Massey, Toronto
By descent to the present Private Collection, British Columbia

This especially fine winter scene by one of Canada’s beloved historical painters, Cornelius Krieghoff, is filled with charming detail. In this delightful depiction of winter, the horse pulls hard to drag the bright red box-style sleigh through the heavy snow, which blankets the fence lines and coats the trees, some of which are still holding on to their reddish autumn leaves. Krieghoff has captured a typical Canadian moment from the time; the horse and sleigh plod directly into the drifting, blowing snow, and as the snow settles on the hat and clothing of the sleigh’s lone occupant, he looks at us, aware of his plight and unable to do anything but endure the storm, as does the horse, until they reach the end of their journey. The snow sprays up against the sides of the sleigh - we can just see the line of its bright blue interior – but allows the curled iron runners to show in the back; classic Krieghoff details. The wayside cross, with a decorative rooster atop, is finely handled and stands as a symbol of the influence of the church in rural Quebec during that time.

All prices are in Canadian Dollars