Rare Tom Thomson Art
Monday, 20 April 2009
An iconic Canadian post-impressionist artist, Tom Thomson’s paintings are centred around idyllic Canadian landscapes. His works manage that capture that quiet serenity that is the very essence of Canadian landscapes. Every time I come across his work, I am reminded of long hiking trails through beautiful parks that frame these beautiful, placid views at every angle. Tragically, he died at the young age of 39, leaving behind a legacy of works that are now worth millions, like the one pictured below, title “Autumn Foliage”:
Recently, a new Thomson painting, pictured below, appeared on the market. Titled “Dawn on Round Lake”, it ‘depicts a lake near Algonquin Park, with a deep blue hill rising in the background and bare spindly trees pointing to wisps of clouds… Thomson painted the oil sketch during a hunting trip in 1915 [and] presented the small work as a gift to a doctor friend who had accompanied him… The artwork had been held by the doctor’s family for 94 years, emerging just weeks ago when one of his heirs brought it - by bus and wrapped in a towel.’ (CBC)
Originally appraised at $600,000, the painting was eventually sold for a mere $350,000 to a rookie art collector. Tom Budd, the new owner, is a very lucky man. And I believe he has the economy to thank for this rare Canadian gem.