Animal Unity
127 cms x 274.3 cms (50 ins x 108 ins)
Signed in syllabics lower right
Lot offered for sale by Cowley Abbott, Toronto at the auction event "Spring Live Auction of Important Canadian Art" held on Wed, Jun 15, 2022.
Lot 40709
Lot 40709
Estimate: CAD $70,000 - $90,000
Realised: CAD $312,000
Realised: CAD $312,000
Lot description - from the online catalogue*
Provenance:
Collection of the artist
The Pollock Gallery, Toronto
Private Collection
Joyner Waddington’s, auction, Toronto, November 22, 2010, Lot 204
Kinsman Robinson Galleries, Toronto
Private Collection
Literature:
Lister Sinclair and Jack Pollock, “The Art of Norval Morrisseau”, Toronto, 1979, page 158
Armand Garnet Ruffo, “Norval Morrisseau, Man Changing into Thunderbird”, British Columbia, 2014, pages 196 and 198
Notes:
Born in 1931 at Sandy Point Reserve, Ontario, Morrisseau was a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts since 1970. Norval Morrisseau was the celebrated founder of the Woodland School, which revitalized Anishnabe iconography, traditionally incised on rocks and Midewiwin birchbark scrolls. A self-taught painter, printmaker, and illustrator, Morrisseau created an innovative vocabulary which was initially criticized in the Native community for its disclosure of traditional spiritual knowledge. His colourful, figurative images delineated with heavy black form lines and x-ray articulations, were characteristically signed with the syllabic spelling of Copper Thunderbird, the name Morrisseau’s grandfather gave him. Morrisseau completed many commissions during his career including the mural for the Indians of Canada Pavilion at Expo 67. He was made a member of the Order of Canada in 1978 and, in 1980, received honourary doctorates from both McGill and McMaster universities. In 1995 Morrisseau was honoured by the Assembly of First Nations.
Collection of the artist
The Pollock Gallery, Toronto
Private Collection
Joyner Waddington’s, auction, Toronto, November 22, 2010, Lot 204
Kinsman Robinson Galleries, Toronto
Private Collection
Literature:
Lister Sinclair and Jack Pollock, “The Art of Norval Morrisseau”, Toronto, 1979, page 158
Armand Garnet Ruffo, “Norval Morrisseau, Man Changing into Thunderbird”, British Columbia, 2014, pages 196 and 198
Notes:
Born in 1931 at Sandy Point Reserve, Ontario, Morrisseau was a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts since 1970. Norval Morrisseau was the celebrated founder of the Woodland School, which revitalized Anishnabe iconography, traditionally incised on rocks and Midewiwin birchbark scrolls. A self-taught painter, printmaker, and illustrator, Morrisseau created an innovative vocabulary which was initially criticized in the Native community for its disclosure of traditional spiritual knowledge. His colourful, figurative images delineated with heavy black form lines and x-ray articulations, were characteristically signed with the syllabic spelling of Copper Thunderbird, the name Morrisseau’s grandfather gave him. Morrisseau completed many commissions during his career including the mural for the Indians of Canada Pavilion at Expo 67. He was made a member of the Order of Canada in 1978 and, in 1980, received honourary doctorates from both McGill and McMaster universities. In 1995 Morrisseau was honoured by the Assembly of First Nations.
Most realised prices include the Buyer's Premium of 18-25%, but not the HST/GST Tax.
(*) Text and/or Image might be subject matter of Copyright. Check with Cowley Abbott auction house for permission to use.
(*) Text and/or Image might be subject matter of Copyright. Check with Cowley Abbott auction house for permission to use.