PROVENANCE
Dominion Gallery, Montreal
Atelier J. Lukacs, Montreal
Private Collection, Montreal
Town & Country, Heffel Fine Art Auction House, November 28, 2019, Lot 729
Private Collection, Vancouver

On John Lyman’s return to Canada from France in 1931, he had a considerable impact on the Quebec art scene. In 1939, he founded the Contemporary Art Society of Montreal, and he was a co-founder of the group Atelier. After living in Europe, he had a cosmopolitan view, which he disseminated in articles on art for The Montrealer. In 1949, he became a professor at McGill University, ultimately becoming director of its Fine Arts Department.

In 1954, Lyman began summering in Massachusetts in locations such as Cape Cod, where Cedarville Landing is located. He spent the summer of 1957 there, and also the fall of 1958, when he was filmed by the National Film Board for the television series Profils et passages. Works such as this beautiful, dreamy scene connect with the tradition of atmospheric scenes of leisure portrayed by French Impressionists such as Claude Monet and Lyman’s friend James Wilson Morrice. The concept of spending pleasurable summer holidays at the seaside is a modern one, and Lyman embraced this subject, painting beach scenes in locations ranging from France and Spain to the Caribbean and North America.

All prices are in Canadian Dollars