Alex Colville painting sells for record $2.4M at Toronto auction

A painting by Alex Colville shattered a sales record for a work by therenowned Canadian artist at an auction held in Toronto Wednesday, while works of artists including Pablo Picasso,Joan Mitchelland Lawren Harrisalso fetched strong prices.

The Nova Scotia artist's 1976 canvas Dog and Bridgesold for more than $2.4 million doubling the top end of its pre-sale estimatedvalue of $1.2 million (all prices include a buyer's premium).

The work had been owned privately for decades and had never appeared at auction before.

David Heffel, president of Heffel Fine Art Auction House, says presenting a masterpiece as special as Colville's Dog and Bridgewas a highlight and added he was 'thrilled" the excitement was matched bybidders, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This saleand all of the incredible works on offerproved that even during times of change, art continues to inspire and provide a beacon of light," he said.

Other works also saw strong bidding, with several lots beating their previous artist records.

Pablo Picasso's 1939 Tte de femme sold for more than $1.3 million, in the middle of its pre-sale estimate, as didQuebec artist Jean Paul Riopelle's commanding, large-scale Le reveil, which fetched about $1.2 million.

Abstract Expressionist painter Joan Mitchell's oil-on-canvas triptych, Untitled,sold for nearly $1.2 million, well above its estimateprice of between $400,000 and $600,000.

Toronto artist Yvonne McKague Housser's Town of Cobaltsold for $205,250 four times its top estimated sale price.

Five works by Group of Seven memberLawren Harris were also sold, two for well above their estimates.His North East Corner of Lake Superior (Lake Superior Sketch XXXVIII) fetched $481,250 and the abstraction LSH 89A went for $277,250.

One of the five works had been stowed away in another Canadian painter's possessions for decades, but was uncovered by relatives earlier this year.

According to Heffel, the auction overall totalled $15.3 million.