PROVENANCE
Edgar and Dorothy Davidson, Montreal and then Ottawa
Fine Canadian Art, Heffel Fine Art Auction House, May 17, 2011, lot 121
The Collection of Torben V. Kristiansen, Vancouver

EXHIBITED
Art Association of Montreal, Contemporary Art Society, Art of Our Day in Canada, November 22 – December 15, 1940

When Frederick Varley moved to Vancouver in 1926, the richness of the atmosphere there—the lush, humid climate, the rich greenery and the ocean at his door—inspired his sense of colour. It was there that his palette took on new hues: beautiful blends of blue and green, purple and gold. This sensual use of colour would remain a key part of his work from that time on, and Clouds and a Tree is a perfect example of this, being concerned purely with colour. Varley had returned to Ottawa by 1936, and Clouds and a Tree was likely painted in Trenton, Ontario. The painting shows us Varley’s practice of blending colour directly on the surface of his work; the gradated hues of red and purple in the rock to which the tree clings and in the distant hills are bold experiments.

This painting has been held in two successive important Canadian collections. It was first in the historic collection of Edgar and Dorothy Davidson, who lived in Montreal and then Ottawa. The Davidsons started to build their important collection in the 1940s, and they were early champions of Canadian creativity and artistic expression. Heffel was honoured to bring their collection to market in 2011, when this work was acquired by the legendary and astute Torben V. Kristiansen.

For the biography on Torben V. Kristiansen in PDF format, please click here.

All prices are in Canadian Dollars