Lot 112
JOHN WILLIAM BEATTY, O.S.A., R.C.A.
Additional Images
Provenance:
Kaspar Gallery, Toronto
Private Collection, Toronto
Note:
J.W. Beatty (1869-1941) travelled throughout Holland, Belgium, Italy and Spain from 1905-1909 where he was apprised of the most advanced aesthetic views of his day. The road towards the modern was rocky for many turn of the century Canadians. In the quest to evolve from academic naturalism, many embraced the subjective colour and brushwork of the French Barbizon artists. Particularly noteworthy were the subtle harmonies of chromatic greys popularized by the Tonalist paintings by James Abbott McNeill Whistler. At the time their subdued, restrained palette was not considered dull, or lifeless, instead they were regarded as elegant, refined and sophisticated. Sailing Off French Coast bears all these hallmarks.