George Horne Russell
George Horne Russell
1861 - 1933
RCA
George Horne Russell was born in Banff, Scotland in 1861. He studied at the Aberdeen Art School, and then moved to London, where he took classes at the South Kensington Art School. During his studies, he developed an ability for portraiture and was encouraged to concentrate on that genre of art in his development as an established artist. While in London, Russell undertook a few local commissions - however, a friend advised him to move to Canada, as he would be able to establish himself as a professional European portrait painter.

In 1889, at the age of 28, Russell moved to Montreal and rented a studio, and began to make his name as a portrait artist. Although he completed many portraits for well-known individuals, Russell was not fully content with just being a portrait painter. He had a love for nature – particularly the sea – and he began focusing more on landscape painting. In 1909, the Grand Trunk Railway made him an offer to paint the Rockies and the Skeena River district of British Columbia. This was the point when Russell truly established himself as a landscape / seascape painter, when he returned with a series of large canvases depicting the beauties of Western Canada.

In 1909 he was elected Associate of the Royal Canadian Academy, and in 1919 became a full Academician. In 1922, he became President of the RCA. He was undoubtedly one of the most outstanding portraitists; he knew and painted some of the most distinguished men of his day. Russell was said to have had a quiet and pleasing personality, and could put a nervous sitter at ease with a few words. He was also an talented marine painter. Russell’s works can be found in the collections of the Toronto Art Gallery (now the Art Gallery of Ontario), Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and the National Gallery of Canada.
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Algonquin Park by George Horne Russell sold for $11,250
George Horne Russell
Algonquin Park
36 x 48 in, 91.4 x 121.9 cm
circa 1900
oil on canvas
Estimate: $10,000 - $15,000 CDN
Sold for: $11,250 CDN (premium included)
The Great Outdoors on Thursday, August 29, 2019
Mount Robson by George Horne Russell sold for $10,000
George Horne Russell
Mount Robson
40 x 30 in, 101.6 x 76.2 cm
circa 1900
oil on canvas
Estimate: $10,000 - $15,000 CDN
Sold for: $10,000 CDN (premium included)
Coast to Coast: Canadian Landscapes on Thursday, June 27, 2019
Heavy Seas, Grand Manan, NB by George Horne Russell sold for $7,020
George Horne Russell
Heavy Seas, Grand Manan, NB
30 x 40 in, 76.2 x 101.6 cm
oil on canvas
Estimate: $3,000 - $4,000 CDN
Sold for: $7,020 CDN (premium included)
June 2013 - 2nd Session on Thursday, June 27, 2013
Evening, Mount Pelee - Yellow Head Pass by George Horne Russell sold for $6,380
George Horne Russell
Evening, Mount Pelee - Yellow Head Pass
36 x 25 in, 91.4 x 63.5 cm
oil on canvas
Estimate: $8,000 - $10,000 CDN
Sold for: $6,380 CDN (premium included)
Autumn 98 on Thursday, November 05, 1998
Schooner at St. Andrews by George Horne Russell sold for $4,375
George Horne Russell
Schooner at St. Andrews
18 x 24 in, 45.7 x 61 cm
oil on canvas
Estimate: $1,000 - $2,000 CDN
Sold for: $4,375 CDN (premium included)
January 2017 - 6th Session on Thursday, January 26, 2017
Seascape by George Horne Russell sold for $3,750
George Horne Russell
Seascape
25 3/8 x 33 7/8 in, 64.5 x 86 cm
oil on canvas
Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000 CDN
Sold for: $3,750 CDN (premium included)
Fine Canadian Art on Thursday, February 24, 2022
Harbour by George Horne Russell sold for $2,813
George Horne Russell
Harbour
18 x 24 in, 45.7 x 61 cm
oil on canvas
Estimate: $1,500 - $2,500 CDN
Sold for: $2,813 CDN (premium included)
Fine Canadian Art on Saturday, May 27, 2023
Country Farm by George Horne Russell sold for $2,340
George Horne Russell
Country Farm
12 x 16 in, 30.5 x 40.6 cm
oil on canvas on board
Estimate: $2,500 - $3,500 CDN
Sold for: $2,340 CDN (premium included)
February 2010 - 2nd Session on Thursday, February 25, 2010
Portrait of a Young Woman by George Horne Russell sold for $2,000
George Horne Russell
Portrait of a Young Woman
31 1/2 x 26 1/2 in, 80 x 67.3 cm
oil on canvas
Estimate: $2,500 - $3,500 CDN
Sold for: $2,000 CDN (premium included)
Historical Canadian Art on Thursday, November 30, 2017
Incoming Tide, Nova Scotia by George Horne Russell sold for $1,750
George Horne Russell
Incoming Tide, Nova Scotia
18 1/4 x 22 1/4 in, 46.4 x 56.5 cm
oil on canvas
Estimate: $1,500 - $2,000 CDN
Sold for: $1,750 CDN (premium included)
Canadian Art on Thursday, February 22, 2018