Alexander Young Jackson 1882 - 1974

Private Collection, Ottawa 

 

This painting is in pristine condition. There is very fine craquellure in the white snow to left of centre and in the two snow caps to the lower left. There are no apparent issues under UV. We wish to thank "In Restauro Conservart Inc." for examining this painting and their original notes are available upon request from Sotheby's.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Jackson's annual trip down the shores of the St Lawrence in early spring produced a steady stream of inspired oil sketches and canvases, especially through the 1920s and 1930s. This view near St. Tite des Caps, probably in late March, is a particularly fine and ambitious example of his work in these areas of Quebec. Jackson has tackled a large and difficult scene, a vast expanse of snow, which is practically unbroken except for the stream with a few straggly trees and a sparse line of small farm buildings along a distant ridge. Yet with his characteristic undulating lines that define the contours of the topography both near and far, and his adaptation of an impressionist palette that he had developed for himself after his time in France, he has made every part of this canvas intriguing and vital. The long fence lines, which demarked the property allocations from the river shore well up into the high country, and the hint of ploughed furrows almost visible under a mantle of late spring snow, add further to the complexity of the composition. Arching over the entire vista is a lively aquamarine sky.