Joyner’s Canadian Art Auction

May 25, 2012

LOT 117

Lot 117

DORIS JEAN MCCARTHY, O.S.A., R.C.A.

DORIS JEAN MCCARTHY, O.S.A., R.C.A.
Lot 117 Details
DORIS JEAN MCCARTHY, O.S.A., R.C.A.

THE TIP OF THE ICEBERGS, 1995

oil on canvas
signed
36 ins x 48 ins; 90 cms x 120 cms

Estimate $20,000-$25,000

Realised: $44,840
Price Includes Buyer's Premium ?

Lot Report

Provenance:

Wynick/Tuck Gallery, Toronto.
Private Collection, Toronto.

Literature:

William Moore, Celebrating Life: The Art of Doris McCarthy, The McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Kleinburg, Ontario, 1999, page 205; page 165, reproduced in colour.

Note:

Perhaps McCarthy’s most coveted motif, her Arctic landscapes are full of geometrical depth and blends of muted and vibrant colours. In “Tip of the Icebergs (1995)” McCarthy displays her virtuosity, using several shades of blue without paling the magnitude of the iceberg. The artist retired from teaching in 1972 and made her first Arctic trip to Pond Inlet, Resolute Bay, Eureka and Grise Fiord in Nunavut. In later trips McCarthy also painted in Alaska, Yukon, Greenland, Antarctica, Newfoundland and Labrador. McCarthy's iceberg illustrations are often compared to those of Lawren Harris; in the chapter entitled “Heart of Vision”, William Moore writes: “In the monumental arctic visions of Lawren Harris, we confront dense and dramatic portraits of the surfaces of the north. These are idealized structures and through them we feel the idea of place---but we see it from afar. McCarthy's skilful compositional manoeuvres invite us to enter, share and wander within the experience of the artist. We share her place; her structures surround us and we enter into a communion not only with the landscape but also with the artist.”

CONDITION DETAILS

For condition information please contact the specialist.

LOT 117
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About Condition Ratings

  • 5 Stars: Excellent - No discernable damage, flaws or imperfections
  • 4 Stars: Very Good - Minor flaws or imperfections visible only under close inspection using specialised instruments or black light
  • 3 Stars: Good - Minor flaws visible upon inspection under standard lighting
  • 2 Stars: Fair - Exhibits flaws or damage that may draw the eye under standard lighting
  • 1 Star: Poor - Flaws or damage immediately apparent under standard lighting (examples: missing components, rips, broken glass, damaged surfaces, etc.)

Note: Condition ratings and condition details are the subjective opinions of our specialists and should be used as a guide only. Waddington’s uses due care when preparing condition details, however, our staff are not professional restorers or conservators. Condition details and reports are not warranties and each lot is sold “as is” in accordance with the buyer’s terms and conditions of sale. In all cases the prospective purchaser is responsible for inspecting the property themselves prior to placing a bid.