Cornelius David Krieghoff
1815 - 1872
Canadian
Settlers Home, Saint Maurice Valley
oil on canvas
signed and on verso titled and dated 1858 on the gallery label
13 x 18 1/4 in, 33 x 46.4 cm
Preview at: Heffel Toronto – 13 Hazelton Ave
PROVENANCE
William Hill, New York, 1870
By descent within the family to Jane Hill, W.L. Hill, Marth (Beckford) Hill, and Elizabeth (Beckford) Hill, New York, 1989
Mahoon Estate, 1997
Masters Gallery Ltd., Vancouver
Private Collection, Vancouver
EXHIBITED
Galerie Walter Klinkhoff Inc., Montreal, Canadian Masterpieces, September 20 – October 4, 2008, catalogue #2
Much of Cornelius Krieghoff’s most enduring work is devoted to the lives of the habitants of rural Quebec, whose customs, labours and domestic rituals offered the artist a rich and recurring source of inspiration. Returning repeatedly to the countryside along the St. Lawrence River and traveling into the valleys beyond, Krieghoff fashioned vivid pictorial narratives that have come to define the visual imagination of nineteenth-century French Canada. Painted in 1858, Settlers Home, Saint Maurice Valley is at once intimate in scale and expansive in its storytelling, serving as an exceptional example of Krieghoff’s indelible vision.
The canvas centres on a winter homestead nestled within the rugged landscape of the Saint-Maurice region. Snow lies thick upon the ground and clings to the low roof of the log cabin, from which icicles descend in crystalline formations. Smoke rises gently from the chimney, quietly suggesting the fire within. Krieghoff delights in such descriptive nuance: the texture of the squared logs, the irregular fencing, and the neatly stacked woodpile all speak to the rhythms of settler life and the careful preparation required to endure the Canadian winter.
At the heart of the composition, a habitant dressed in a vivid yellow coat, secured with a ceinture fléchée, returns home and affectionately lifts a small child in the air. His wife and another child stand nearby, while a small dog animates the mid-ground, reinforcing the warmth and intimacy of the scene. This central moment of reunion anchors the composition, yet Krieghoff expands the narrative outward, capturing the broader activities that sustained daily life.
To the right of the home’s doorway, a sturdy horse stands harnessed to a wooden sleigh, its breath faintly visible in the cold air. The sleigh itself is rendered with remarkable precision: the elegant curve of its runners, the painted green box. A rich red blanket draped over its side introduces both colour and texture to the composition. A figure tends to the horse, his clothing—red cap, green jacket and blue trousers—echoing the vibrant palette that punctuates the snowy landscape. These bold colour accents are characteristic of Krieghoff’s finest works and draw the viewer’s eye across the scene.
In the left foreground, a woman kneels at a partially frozen water source, breaking the ice to draw water—an essential task in winter. Nearby, the chopping block and axe, along with the carefully arranged woodpile, emphasize the labour required to sustain the household. Three chickens gather in the centre foreground, a modest yet telling indication of the family’s reliance on their own provisions. Every element is observed with extreme care, contributing to a richly layered narrative in which each detail carries meaning.
What is particularly striking in this work is the exceptional state of preservation and the vibrancy of the colours. Unlike many paintings of this period, the pigments retain a fresh, luminous quality, allowing the brilliance of Krieghoff’s palette to be fully appreciated. It is understood that the painting remained for many years in a New York family collection, where it was kept behind glass.
Equally noteworthy is the artist’s extraordinary precision of execution. The level of detail is almost microscopic: from the delicate icicles along the roofline to the intricate harness of the horse, from the texture of the snow to the smallest implements of daily life. This meticulous attention invites close viewing and rewards sustained engagement, revealing Krieghoff’s technical control and observational acuity.
The isolation of the homestead is heightened by the mountainous backdrop, while the forest presses closely behind the buildings. Yet the scene conveys not hardship alone, but resilience and quiet prosperity. The glazed window, well-kept sleigh, horse and barn suggest a degree of comfort within this remote environment.
Settlers Home, Saint Maurice Valley belongs to a mature period in Krieghoff’s career when his command of narrative composition and atmospheric effect was fully realized. Though these scenes are often products of the artist’s imagination—composite visions drawn from memory and observation—they convey a vivid sense of everyday life that has resonated with generations of viewers. In this finely preserved canvas, Krieghoff offers not merely an anecdote of rural life but a carefully constructed vision of identity, endurance and domestic harmony in nineteenth-century Quebec. Listen Stop
Estimate: $120,000 - $160,000 CAD
All prices are in Canadian Dollars
Although great care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information posted, errors and omissions may occur. All bids are subject to our Terms and Conditions of Business. Bidders must ensure they have satisfied themselves with the condition of the Lot prior to bidding. Condition reports are available upon request.
1815 - 1872
Canadian
Settlers Home, Saint Maurice Valley
oil on canvas
signed and on verso titled and dated 1858 on the gallery label
13 x 18 1/4 in, 33 x 46.4 cm
Preview at: Heffel Toronto – 13 Hazelton Ave
PROVENANCE
William Hill, New York, 1870
By descent within the family to Jane Hill, W.L. Hill, Marth (Beckford) Hill, and Elizabeth (Beckford) Hill, New York, 1989
Mahoon Estate, 1997
Masters Gallery Ltd., Vancouver
Private Collection, Vancouver
EXHIBITED
Galerie Walter Klinkhoff Inc., Montreal, Canadian Masterpieces, September 20 – October 4, 2008, catalogue #2
Much of Cornelius Krieghoff’s most enduring work is devoted to the lives of the habitants of rural Quebec, whose customs, labours and domestic rituals offered the artist a rich and recurring source of inspiration. Returning repeatedly to the countryside along the St. Lawrence River and traveling into the valleys beyond, Krieghoff fashioned vivid pictorial narratives that have come to define the visual imagination of nineteenth-century French Canada. Painted in 1858, Settlers Home, Saint Maurice Valley is at once intimate in scale and expansive in its storytelling, serving as an exceptional example of Krieghoff’s indelible vision.
The canvas centres on a winter homestead nestled within the rugged landscape of the Saint-Maurice region. Snow lies thick upon the ground and clings to the low roof of the log cabin, from which icicles descend in crystalline formations. Smoke rises gently from the chimney, quietly suggesting the fire within. Krieghoff delights in such descriptive nuance: the texture of the squared logs, the irregular fencing, and the neatly stacked woodpile all speak to the rhythms of settler life and the careful preparation required to endure the Canadian winter.
At the heart of the composition, a habitant dressed in a vivid yellow coat, secured with a ceinture fléchée, returns home and affectionately lifts a small child in the air. His wife and another child stand nearby, while a small dog animates the mid-ground, reinforcing the warmth and intimacy of the scene. This central moment of reunion anchors the composition, yet Krieghoff expands the narrative outward, capturing the broader activities that sustained daily life.
To the right of the home’s doorway, a sturdy horse stands harnessed to a wooden sleigh, its breath faintly visible in the cold air. The sleigh itself is rendered with remarkable precision: the elegant curve of its runners, the painted green box. A rich red blanket draped over its side introduces both colour and texture to the composition. A figure tends to the horse, his clothing—red cap, green jacket and blue trousers—echoing the vibrant palette that punctuates the snowy landscape. These bold colour accents are characteristic of Krieghoff’s finest works and draw the viewer’s eye across the scene.
In the left foreground, a woman kneels at a partially frozen water source, breaking the ice to draw water—an essential task in winter. Nearby, the chopping block and axe, along with the carefully arranged woodpile, emphasize the labour required to sustain the household. Three chickens gather in the centre foreground, a modest yet telling indication of the family’s reliance on their own provisions. Every element is observed with extreme care, contributing to a richly layered narrative in which each detail carries meaning.
What is particularly striking in this work is the exceptional state of preservation and the vibrancy of the colours. Unlike many paintings of this period, the pigments retain a fresh, luminous quality, allowing the brilliance of Krieghoff’s palette to be fully appreciated. It is understood that the painting remained for many years in a New York family collection, where it was kept behind glass.
Equally noteworthy is the artist’s extraordinary precision of execution. The level of detail is almost microscopic: from the delicate icicles along the roofline to the intricate harness of the horse, from the texture of the snow to the smallest implements of daily life. This meticulous attention invites close viewing and rewards sustained engagement, revealing Krieghoff’s technical control and observational acuity.
The isolation of the homestead is heightened by the mountainous backdrop, while the forest presses closely behind the buildings. Yet the scene conveys not hardship alone, but resilience and quiet prosperity. The glazed window, well-kept sleigh, horse and barn suggest a degree of comfort within this remote environment.
Settlers Home, Saint Maurice Valley belongs to a mature period in Krieghoff’s career when his command of narrative composition and atmospheric effect was fully realized. Though these scenes are often products of the artist’s imagination—composite visions drawn from memory and observation—they convey a vivid sense of everyday life that has resonated with generations of viewers. In this finely preserved canvas, Krieghoff offers not merely an anecdote of rural life but a carefully constructed vision of identity, endurance and domestic harmony in nineteenth-century Quebec. Listen Stop
Estimate: $120,000 - $160,000 CAD
All prices are in Canadian Dollars
Although great care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information posted, errors and omissions may occur. All bids are subject to our Terms and Conditions of Business. Bidders must ensure they have satisfied themselves with the condition of the Lot prior to bidding. Condition reports are available upon request.
