Posted 10 years ago
Alan2310
(915 items)
Hi
Everyone.
Here we are, i have this artwork for almost 1 month 1/2, i almost post it, few day's after i found it, i remember chatting with Julie a (CW-member) stay tuned,(i say) i found something really nice(and i think, one a mimute,better to be sure about that), i restraint my enthusiasm until today, because today i have this back from a friend antique dealer, even himself,,, he have to go to the ROM to get this check, and that was it:) month and half later, an original Mix Media (Pastel,Charcaol) by Nicolas De Grandmaison, well know artist, specialized in Native American Indian.
This is obvious, before this artist was granted has master of is art, its seems, he sold some of those, maybe to friend ,when he start painting, pastelling, and watercolor,masonite board was cheap for the artist at the time, cheaper then canvas board, later on, he use hight quality paper and velours paper and those artwork are priceless today, sold for 35K to 50K, now the one i found was on masonite board, at his beginning did few on that kind of support, and the ROM conservator told me,,,, this need to be appraisse for assurance purpose, when my friend ask about the value, i did't know, but he have an ideal, way more then the one on special Paper, for the reason then he not recall seem another one like this,,,,way to go....pay off, all those hours running all over those thrift store try to find the REAL TREASURE, WELL LOOK LIKE I FOUND A PART OF IT.
Thanks for Viewing
Alan
Nicholas Raffael de Grandmaison was born in Russia on February 24, 1892, into a French and Russian family of noble descent. He was educated in Moscow and studied art, music, languages and history until he entered the military at the age of 19. After being captured as a soldier in the Imperial Army, de Grandmaison spent 4 years in a prisoner of war camp where he turned to art as an alternative from the monotony of confinement. Following the war, de Grandmaison went to England and registered as an artist émigré, favouring art over life as an officer. He studied at St. John’s Wood School of Art in London and owing to his aristocratic upbringing, relied on his charm to gain commissions. In 1923, he arrived in Canada due to connections he had made in England and spent time in Winnipeg working at a printing and engraving firm, while doing portraits mainly of children. His first encounter with First Nations people came in 1930 when he travelled to The Pas in northern Manitoba. Not only did his portraits of this proud race prove to sell, but de Grandmaison, aware of his affinity for the Native community, dedicated himself entirely to recording them throughout his artistic career. De Grandmaison ventured west into Alberta where he encountered Blackfoot, Sarcee, Peigan, Stoney, and Blood Tribes. De Grandmaison regarded the Plains Indians as the aristocrats of North America and through his romantic vision saw in their weathered features, a strength he wished to preserve. The artist would paint such iconic figures as High Eagle, the last warrior from the Battle of Little Big Horn. De Grandmaison preferred pastels to oil and favoured a type of sandpaper imported from France that was smooth on one side and rough on the other. Since he was usually on the move in search of his subjects, he stored pastels a tin box and carried cherished pieces of his oeuvre with him in a thick portfolio. The artist and his family moved to Banff in 1940. Elected into the Royal Canadian Academy in 1942, de Grandmaison was recognized for his achievements. In 1959, he was inducted as an honorary member of the Peigan Nation; a testament of his lifetime mission to depict the First Nations people of western Canada, and was awarded The Order of Canada in 1972. Nicholas de Grandmaison died in Calgary on March 23, 1978, and was buried in the Peigan Reserve where he had been made an Honorary Chief and given the name “Enuk-sapop” or Little Plume. His legacy of portraiture executed in a realist style demonstrates an immediacy which allows the viewer to witness a race that was threatened. De Grandmaison’s work remains a permanent part of Canadian art history.
Really a great poste that hits home with me.
stunning. One of those portraits that exudes life.
Hi
blunderbuss2
Thanks for the comment and the love.
I have being out of my mind for that month and half, i knew went i found this... it was a big find, because i know Art, but i want to be pinch by somebody else, so i call my friend, he use is connection, if this will only me asking expertise by the ROM, i will still wait and wait,and again.
The first suspicion i have, was when i go to my car with this frame, put in my back seat, and when back in front for starting the car, i realize i have color on my left hand, hey whats going on, so i realize was a pastel, so that's damage the surface a bit, that's picture #2, you see kind long trace on the indian shoulder, this as to be fix and i have to put in a glass frame.
You got to learn, you never know what you got in your hand, now because i start collecting glass, so i carry with me bubble wrap, yesterday i crack i really nice one, at the Salvation thrift store they wrap with newspaper, that's not really good.
Anyway........
Take care
Alan
Absolutely love it !! What a great find :-)
Great write up too :-)
I really like this one Alan!!
Many thanks, surfdub66 for your comment.
Much appreciated.
Regards
Alan
Hi
Scott, Many thanks for the comment and the love.
Since I have this back to me, I realize how lucky I am, with all hunters around,,,,,,,,,, I was the choose one, god bless my passion, alleluia :D
I don't gone make the same mistake I did 18 years ago at Quebec, when I come across really great piece of Artwork, no way.....
Regards, my CW friend.
Alan
Many thanks, kanukster for the comment and Love.
100% agree,,,,,,
Regards
Alan
Many thanks CindB,jscott0363,lzenglish ,Jewels,kanukster
vetraio50,blunderbuss2,aghcollect for the love
Great find, I've always loved the artwork of De Grandmaison!
Many thanks, walksoftly for the comment and the love.
Yes me to... before always dream of it, now it's reality.
Regards
Alan
On a side note the "board" is masonite.
Also for those outside of Canada, the ROM is the The Royal Ontario Museum. You're lucky to have a friend that could go to the ROM for you.
Hi
walksoftly
I do realize that, I go there few time for exposition of all kind.
My friend have a family relative work as a conservator, that's why the delay was shorter, still more then month, for me, look more like a year.
Yes was aspanite, they tested for some trace white undercoating use before applying any media, was affirmative.
Regards
Alan
To clarify, I knew that you knew, but thought that others may not know what the ROM was.
The fourth image of the backside shows that it is masonite NOT aspinite.
Regards
David
Sorry you right, I apologize:(
Alan
No need to apologize, I thought the masonite/asponite might have been a translation thing.
All is good I hope:)
Many thanks mikelv85,MacDaddyRico for the love.
Hi
walksoftly
No, this was 2 different product.
It's alright...... my mistake.
Thanks for the comment.
Many thanks,W.S for the love.
I'm so happy for you, Alan! Exciting, great find, congratulations! :)
This was the portrait I remembered. :)
Striking portrait, and wonderful find Alan!!!
Because of the positioning and expression I have to say--I've never seen a more remarkable piece of Native-American portrature!!
@ katherinescollections, i understand, i own this beauty, and still love it a lot, i remember every details, when i buy it.
This is a far with others piece my more priceless find.... ;-D
Has it's happen many time, this beauty have not receive all is reverance.
But that's OK, i can live with that.
Many thanks for loving this Artwork.
Alan
@ Kyra, yes it is... very Graceful to find that piece.
Many thanks for the comment and the love, always appreciated, you stop by my post.
Alan
@ PostCardCollector, i am thrill that you love it, many people have recongnize the beauty of it, and i am so happy about it.
Many thanks, for the kind comments, much appreciated.
Alan
Alan, that's why I wanted to bring it back to the top of the home page, so that more people could see this incredible work of art. You have a great eye. Be proud of your talent and judgment, no matter what. :)
@katerinescollections.
I have many friends here i guess, and i am proud, to counted you... has one of them ;-).
Thank you so much for those kind words, i really, really, appreciated that a lot.
Alan
ALAN! What a great help---TAKE BUBBLE WRAP WITH US WH-- WE ARE OUT BUYING!!! Maybe even some padded bubble wrap mailing bags for smaller purchases.
Fantastic piece!
@PostCardCollector, oh yeah, I have a roll of bubble wrap on the back seat, very useful, many thanks for the comments and the love, much appreciated.
Alan
@courtenayantiques, yes very graceful to found it.
Since I found it, I put a glass in the frame, to preventing what happen when I damaged the color.
Many thanks for the kind comment and the love, much appreciated.
Alan
Hi I was wondering if you were able to find out more info about this picture? I have one just like it from the Norman Reid Gallery in Belleville, and was researching to find out more information about it.