Sold for: $40,950

PROVENANCE
Continental Galleries, Montreal
Private Collection, Montreal

Racing Across the Ice, Quebec is an especially interesting example of Cornelius Krieghoff’s scenes of horse-drawn sleighs. In addition to the artist’s careful observation of detail, nuance and colour, we have French Canadian politics. The two sleighs, finely painted but completely different in their styles, are each carrying three men and are drawn by galloping horses. They are political rivals - the Parti rouge racing against the Parti bleu. After The Act of Union (formerly The British North America Act of 1840) united Upper and Lower Canada, the Parti rouge and Parti bleu developed in the ensuing years. Their party colours are designated by the ribbons on the horse’s bridles, which fly in the wind as they race for political pride. Quebec’s Citadel is seen in the distance, sitting like a quiet observer atop Cap Diamant, and the angular forms of the St. Lawrence River’s ice, crushed up and piled like barriers alongside the ice road, contain the race, adding tension and excitement. The ice and snow, distant city and sky are all finely handled in varying tones of winter whites.

All prices are in Canadian Dollars