Lot 1130: Horatio Walker, RCA,AWCS,RI,RSC,SAA (Canadian, 1858-1938) Sheep Shearing

Sheep Shearing
signed and dated 'Horatio Walker-1930-' (lower right)
oil on canvas
95.2 x 121.9cm (37 1/2 x 48in).

Provenance
Acquired directly from the artist's studio by Charles Dunn who acquired the artist's house in the 1930's.
Estate of the late Jane Dunn and Tim Dunn, Ile d'Orleans, Quebec
Thence by descent to the present owner

Exhibited: Grand Central Art Galleries, New York

After many visits and great success in New York, Horatio Walker took a studio there in 1885. In 1923 an article appeared in Time magazine mentioning that Walker was among a group of exhibiting artists as yet to be chosen in one of the Grand Central Galleries exhibition lotteries. This canvas dated 1930 and bearing the Grand Central label was most likely exhibited there that year or shortly thereafter.

The Grand Central Galleries were the exhibition space and offices of the not-for-profit Painters and Sculptors' Gallery Association, a cooperative that had been established in 1922. The Time magazine article outlined the scheme of the Association. Basically it functioned as a lottery for the non-artist members, who paid yearly dues allowing them to draw lots as to what they could purchase in an upcoming exhibition. For established artist members it usually meant a sale, for younger unknown artists it was a perfect marketing tool.