Featured Would love opinions on this pastel (?) sketch, Canadian impressionist style

Hi all!

I bought this pastel (?) sketch (behind glass) at an auction in Ontario recently. I thought it looked interesting. It appears to be "Le train en hiver" by French Canadian artist Clarence Gagnon (1881-1942), I dare not hope by the artist himself . I've added the original oil on canvas done by Gagnon for reference at the end of the photos.

Do you think it has been done by a professional hand or likely someone copying the original painting? Is the frame older? No markings, stamps or sigs. I would like to take it out of the frame but it's pretty nailed in and I'm a bit nervous that I'll make a mess of it. It measures 11.5"L by 13"W framed and 8"L by 6"W unframed. Thanks for any input!

 

I'm not saying it was done by him, but ...

he did make pastel studies...

https://www.gallery.ca/magazine/you...-gagnon-between-regionalism-and-impressionism

 

It looks like a preliminary sketch and, yes, possibly by the artist himself. Here's an etude of the same subject done by Gagnon in oil on panel. The original was painted in 1913-1914 and is in a private collection, I see.

https://www.klinkhoff.ca/content/fe...larence-a.-gagnon-etude-the-train-1910-circa/

It's unlikely to be signed because, if it were, the auction house would have offered it as an example of the artist's work. How did they list it and did they give any provenance at all? The elaborate framing and modern matte might indicate that someone, not too long ago, thought it worth displaying.

Debora

 

The National Gallery pastel has a 'Atelier Gagnon' stamp on the bottom right

 

It was described at auction as a "Canadian crayon pastel Impressionist painting. Possibly sketched in crayons. Uncertain of age. Unsigned.".

It does seem nicely matted yes! No provenance given.

 

They certainly weren't taking any chances, we they? It'd have to be seen by an expert. The National Gallery of Canada just bought a Gagnon pastel. Perhaps someone there would look at it.

https://www.gallery.ca/magazine/you...-gagnon-between-regionalism-and-impressionism

Debora

 

Agreed they weren't! It's an exciting prospect, I will do just that thank you

 

Thanks for sharing these! Fingers crossed, you never know

 

Ok, got a quick reply from the National Gallery that they don't do authentication or appraisals so I'll have to research a different avenue!

 

https://www.klinkhoff.ca/appraisals/

 

Great minds!! Thank you, I had actually just forwarded my email to them before I read this

 

And again:

 

Not surprising re museum but always the first place to ask.

Debora

 

Fingers crossed here too! (I'm not sure I could resist taking the back off.)

 

You could have someone do it carefully for you if you're uncomfortable doing so.

Debora

 

I would have to take the back off to see if there were signatures or notes under the frame or on the back. Any good appraiser will do that anyway.

 

I almost always do as I can't resist either but this one is so firmly nailed I think I will wait for the time being and see if anyone gets back to me about it first.

 

Ok, my curiosity got the better of me and I took the back off! The nails actually slid out quite easily with pliers. Here is the back and picture with glass off:

 

The sticker with fountain pen notation supports an earlier date. Certain pre-1960s. And a Google Images search shows the same sticker used by a number of art galleries. For instance, this web sites identifies that sticker being used by the Carstairs Gallery from the 1930s through the 1950s.

https://fineartadvisory.ch/Carstairs_Gallery_Archive.html

Debora