CLARIFICATION — ARTPRICE NOTICES (TORONTO AUCTIONS, 2001)
To avoid any documentary or historical confusion, I am providing here several clarifications regarding five of my works that appeared in Ritchie’s Auctioneers sales (Toronto, 2001), later reproduced by various databases, including Artprice.com.
A review of the original auction catalogues — obtained in November 2025 through the IntelliSearch service of the Toronto Reference Library — confirms that several titles were altered or presented without their proper artistic context, which affects the understanding and chronology of my work.
It should also be noted that I have never exhibited in Toronto, and that the appearance of these works in auctions held outside Montreal — where the Dominion Gallery was located — remains unexplained.
Works concerned (Ritchie’s Auctioneers catalogues, 2001)
1. Self-portrait (1992)
Original title: Bélier, poisson, oiseau et
saltimbanque
Title used in 2001: Portrait of a Gentleman
Note:
This pastel is a self-portrait and was reproduced on the invitation card for my third solo exhibition (Dominion Gallery, 1992).
The generic title used in 2001 does not reflect the autobiographical nature of the work or its iconography.
2. La Tulipe — from the series Escaliers de secours (1993–1994)
No mention in the 2001 catalogue indicates that La Tulipe is the third panel in a three-painting
series.
The complete series can be viewed here.
3. Two early studies (before 1988)
Two studies — one for La Chaise Jaune, the other for Coat on
Chair/Jacket — also appear in the March 1, 2001 sale.
To my knowledge, I did not consent to their sale, and I have no documentation supporting their transfer.
Their presence in these auctions remains unexplained.
Documentary findings (TRL catalogues, 2025)
The original printed catalogues (2001) confirm:
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the altered title of my self-portrait,
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the omission of the Escaliers de secours series,
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the presence of two early studies with no acquisition context,
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and auction estimates and results far below the values established during my exhibitions at the Dominion Gallery (1988–1994).
These discrepancies may mislead researchers, collectors, or institutions consulting these records today.
Subsequent trajectory (2001–2013)
In 2013, two of the works concerned — La Tulipe and my self-portrait — were found together in a Toronto antique
shop, showing visible damage (broken glass, surface abrasions).
These elements helped partially reconstruct their trajectory after the 2001 auctions.
Evidence and contactability
Presented here are:
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the reproduction of the 1992 Dominion Gallery invitation card,
-
and a reproduction of the original self-portrait.
As a professional member of the RAAV (Regroupement des artistes en arts visuels du Québec), I have always
been easy to reach.
In the early 2000s, the law firm Heenan Blaikie contacted me via the RAAV to settle copyright fees for
the online reproduction of La Chaise Jaune (exhibited in 1988, resold in 2019).
This demonstrates that verification was entirely possible.
Neither Artprice nor any auction house attempted to contact me.
Acknowledgements
I wish to thank the Artprice.com team for promptly correcting the erroneous titles after I brought these discrepancies to their attention.
Purpose of this page
This page aims to restore documentary accuracy concerning the works mentioned, in order to provide researchers, collectors, and institutions with reliable, verifiable, and contextualized information.
