Lot 15: James Williamson Galloway (Jock) Macdonald 1897 -

James Williamson Galloway (Jock) Macdonald 1897 - 1960 Canadian oil on board Abstract 35 1/4 x 37 1/2 inches 89.5 x 95.2 centimeters Literature:William Withrow, Contemporary Canadian Painting, 1972, pages 18 - 20 Provenance:Private Collection, Toronto Inscribed on verso by Eric Freifeld on March 18, 1980, ""In my considered opinion this is unquestionably a JWG MacDonald (Jock) work of his last period."" Jock Macdonald is considered one of Canada's most influential and important artists. He was not only devoted to his craft, but was also a teacher and mentor to many of those who would go on to become Canada's most critical artists. Macdonald was a central figure in the development of the Painters Eleven group, having been introduced to the group through its founding member William Ronald. Although Macdonald depicted landscapes throughout his artistic career, it is perhaps his abstract works that are most intriguing. Prior to becoming a member of the Painters Eleven, Macdonald studied with Hans Hofmann in New York during the summers of 1948 and 1949. This period was likely to have been the preliminary step to the maturation of his work into an abstract form of expression. In the latter period of his work until his death in 1960, Macdonald's paintings reflected a greater boldness of colour and freedom of movement, which is so clearly evident in this work. Ann Pollock wrote in the National Gallery of Canada's retrospective exhibition catalogue, "The last three years of Macdonald's life were, in many ways, his happiest and most productive. He was aware that he was finally achieving a personal style that would express all his feelings and ideas concerning life and nature."