Provenance

Mr. and Mrs. Vernon E. Johnson, Montreal

By descent to C. David Johnson, Toronto

Senator Pamela Wallin, Saskatchewan (purchased from the above)

An avid outdoorsman, A.Y. Jackson was acutely aware of his role within the landscape as an active participant; rather than omit the villages, communities and settlements which he encountered across Canada, he instead sought to elevate the importance of human existence, resilience and reliance on the land in these more remote locales. The representation of life in rural communities is central within many of Jackson’s celebrated works and was an element which was integral to his oeuvre.

The owner of this artwork, The Honourable Pamela Wallin, O.C., S.O.M. is a celebrated Canadian politician, former journalist and diplomat. A Saskatchewan native, Senator Wallin was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2007, one of the many academic diplomatic and academic awards and appointments, Wallin has received. Wallin was appointed to the Senate of Canada in January of 2009. 

Senator Wallin purchased this artwork from C. David Johnson, veteran Canadian television, screen and theatre actor. The actor received the Jackson artwork from his parents’ art collection. Vernon E. Johnson, David’s father, was the President and CEO of Canadian International Paper Company and the Montreal family frequented the city’s Sherbrooke Street art galleries, where they likely acquired this oil sketch by A.Y. Jackson.