Sold for: $49,250

PROVENANCE
Peter Ohler Fine Arts Ltd., Vancouver
Private Collection, Vancouver
Fine Canadian Art, Heffel Fine Art Auction House, May 24, 2017, lot 152
Private Collection, Toronto

LITERATURE
Ted Herriott, Sunday Morning with Cass: Conversations with A.J. Casson, 1993, page 137

By 1974, A.J. Casson was the last surviving member of the Group of Seven. He was the recipient of many honours, and his works were avidly pursued by collectors. Casson’s prime focus was Ontario, from its rural villages to its wilderness, and he explored the province extensively. This subject formed his identity within the Group and was his lifelong commitment.

Autumn was Casson’s favourite season, as he stated, “not for the colour alone, but for the weather, the skies…” In this vibrant, impressive canvas, Casson’s keen eye for composition is evident throughout this close-up forest view. He has contrasted the warm fall colours transforming the woods with dark evergreens and a grey misty background inhabited by shadowy tree forms. Autumn trees are depicted as flame-like shapes, emphasized by upturned branch tips, a stylization that gives the scene the impression of movement and warmth. In the foreground, rock ledges create an open space, from which the viewer can contemplate the dense woods. In Autumn Tapestry, Casson has captured the primordial beauty of this scene, making us feel the cool, fresh air and the deep stillness.

All prices are in Canadian Dollars