William Hadd Mcelcheran, R.C.A., WALKING BUSINESSMAN AND THREE ARCHES, terracotta, 28.5 ins x 35.5 ins x 3.7 ins; 73.7 cms x 90.2 cms x 9.5 cms

Lot description

WILLIAM HADD MCELCHERAN, R.C.A.WALKING BUSINESSMAN AND THREE ARCHESterracottainitialed, dated ‘81 and inscribed “AP” 28.5 ins x 35.5 ins x 3.7 ins; 73.7 cms x 90.2 cms x 9.5 cms Provenance:Private Collection, TorontoWilliam McElcheran (1927-1999) is well-known for his portly figures who appear numerously as single and group figures each bearing near identical likenesses. Of relevance to this lot is McElcheran’s celebrated project The Conversation (1981), sited at Stephen Avenue, in downtown Calgary. It is located directly in front of The Hudson’s Bay department store. That building has a series of evenly-spaced columns supporting three-arches that define a loggia. Our businessman paces through the covered colonnade, partly obscured by a pillar. A classical Roman warrior statue points his way. Does it humorously quote a side reference to the forms of the annunciation pictures of Fra Angelico? Fashioned in the time-honoured material of terracotta Walking Businessman and Three Arches is a handsome traditional bas-relief, a conflation of the modern and ancient world. Estimate: $6,000–8,000