Artist Francis [Franz] Hans Johnston
Title Algoma Canyon
Media oil on wood board
Dated ca.  1919
Size 13.25 x 9.25 in. / 33.7 x 23.5 cm.

Notes
signed lower left; bears title and date on gallery labels verso; bears inscription 'Franz Johnston - Given to Jessie Stewart in return for her teaching him Batik' verso; framed

Reference
Traveling to Algoma in 1919, Frank H. Johnston accompanied Lawren Harris, JEH MacDonald and Dr. James McCallum to a beautiful region of northern Ontario. The edges of the lakes and rivers moved the artists to create some of their finest canvases. Johnston's work from this trip caught the interplay of light, shadow and pattern in the woods in a decorative style, with an emphasis on flat planes of colour. Painted during this expedition, the Algoma Canyon oil on board was signed after Frank changed his name to Franz about 1926. The artist received advice from a numerologist friend in New York that the name Frank would never bring him success. His canvases from then on were signed Franz Johnston. The McMichael Canadian Art Collection exhibits Johnston's from 1919 that are signed in the same way, bearing the Franz signature.

Provenance
Loch Gallery, Winnipeg, Canadian Fine Arts, Toronto and Petley Jones Gallery, Vancouver, labels verso
Estimate CAD$20,000-$25,000

Artist Francis [Franz] Hans Johnston
Title The Golden Valley
Media oil on wood board
Size 24 x 30 in. / 61 x 76.2 cm.

Notes
signed lower left; signed and titled verso; framed

Provenance
private collection, Calgary
Estimate CAD$15,000-$25,000

Artist Francis [Franz] Hans Johnston
Title Winter Shadows
Media oil on wood board
Size 8 x 10 in. / 20.3 x 25.4 cm.

Notes
signed lower left; titled on artist's label verso; framed; some surface dirt noted; damage to upper left corner and cracks in frame noted

Provenance
private collection, Calgary
Estimate CAD$3,000-$5,000

Artist Francis [Franz] Hans Johnston
Title Mild Morning
Media oil on wood board
Size 7 x 10 in. / 17.8 x 25.4 cm.

Notes
signed lower left; titled on artist's label verso; framed; minor scratch centre right; cracking and surface dirt noted

Provenance
private collection, Calgary
Estimate CAD$2,500-$3,500

Artist Francis [Franz] Hans Johnston
Title The North Woods in March
Media oil on wood board
Dated 1930 -'s
Size 20 x 24 in. / 50.8 x 61 cm.

Notes
signed lower left; signed and titled verso; bears inscription 'This woods interior is considered by the artist to be the best he has painted to date, a most successful rendering of a most difficult subject. The scene is not far from the shores of Onaman Lake' on gallery label verso; framed; some minor chips and handling marks on frame noted

Provenance
J. Merritt Malloney's Gallery, Toronto, label verso
Estimate CAD$25,000-$35,000

Artist Francis [Franz] Hans Johnston
Title The Glorious Bay [Georgian Bay]
Media oil on wood board
Dated ca.  1930
Size 12 x 16 in. / 30.5 x 40.6 cm.

Notes
signed lower left; signed and titled verso; bears date on gallery reciept; framed; some yellowing of varnish noted

Provenance
purchased from Masters Gallery, Calgary in 1978; private collection, Southern Alberta
Estimate CAD$10,000-$15,000

Artist Francis [Franz] Hans Johnston
Title Sullen Sunset
Media oil on wood board
Size 9.5 x 11.5 in. / 24.1 x 29.2 cm.

Notes
signed lower right; signed and titled verso; framed

Provenance
T. Eaton Co., Fine Art Galleries, label verso; from the Skinner family, Calgary
Estimate CAD$4,000-$6,000

Artist Francis [Franz] Hans Johnston
Title Coming Spring, Sturgeon River Country
Media oil on wood board
Size 10 x 12 in. / 25.4 x 30.5 cm.

Notes
signed lower left; signed and titled verso; framed

Provenance
Fine Art Galleries, T. Eaton, label verso; private collection, Calgary
Estimate CAD$6,000-$8,000

Artist Francis [Franz] Hans Johnston
Title Great Bear Lake, N.W.T.
Media oil on canvas board
Dated 1939
Size 12 x 13.75 in. / 30.5 x 34.9 cm.

Notes
signed and titled lower left; bears title and date on backing; framed

Provenance
Masters Gallery, Calgary, label verso; from the Warren Schmitke estate with proceeds to the Glenbow Museum Acquisition Fund
Estimate CAD$4,000-$5,000

Artist Francis [Franz] Hans Johnston
Title Country Lane, Wyebridge
Media oil on wood board
Size 10 x 12 in. / 25.4 x 30.5 cm.

Notes
signed lower left; signed and titled verso; framed in period frame; some touch up noted; varnish has mottled in places

Provenance
partial Eaton's Fine Art Gallery, Toronto, label verso
Estimate CAD$3,000-$5,000

Artist Francis [Franz] Hans Johnston
Title Forest Upland
Media gouache on paper board
Size 19.5 x 14.25 in. / 49.5 x 36.2 cm.

Notes
signed lower left; bears title on plaque; framed with special glass

Estimate CAD$9,000-$12,000

Artist Francis [Franz] Hans Johnston
Title Horses at Camp
Media black and white photograph on paper
Size 7 x 9 x 1 in. / 17.8 x 22.9 x 2.5 cm.

Notes
unsigned; titled on label verso; unframed; archival mat

Provenance
Stephen McCanse Canadian Art, Toronto, label with biography verso
Estimate CAD$150-$200

Artist Francis [Franz] Hans Johnston
Title Milking the Cow
Media black and white photograph on paper
Size 7 x 9 x 1 in. / 17.8 x 22.9 x 2.5 cm.

Notes
unsigned; titled on label verso; unframed; archival mat

Provenance
Stephen McCanse Canadian Art, Toronto, label with biography verso
Estimate CAD$150-$200

Artist Francis [Franz] Hans Johnston
Title A Farmer Observing his Horses
Media black and white photograph on paper
Size 7 x 9 x 1 in. / 17.8 x 22.9 x 2.5 cm.

Notes
unsigned; titled on label verso; unframed; archival mat; fold along bottom noted; stain along lower margin noted

Provenance
Stephen McCanse Canadian Art, Toronto, label with biography verso
Estimate CAD$150-$200

Artist Francis [Franz] Hans Johnston
Title Carting Hay
Media black and white photograph on paper
Size 7 x 9 x 1 in. / 17.8 x 22.9 x 2.5 cm.

Notes
unsigned; titled on label verso; unframed; archival mat

Provenance
Stephen McCanse Canadian Art, Toronto, label with biography verso
Estimate CAD$150-$200

Artist Francis [Franz] Hans Johnston
Title Untitled - Winter Cover
Media etching on paper
Size 3 x 2.5 x 1 in. / 7.6 x 6.4 x 2.5 cm.

Notes
signed in plate lower right; framed with archival mat

Provenance
private collection, Winnipeg
Estimate CAD$150-$200

Artist Francis [Franz] Hans Johnston
Title October Lagoon, A Favourite Fishing Spot on the Penetang Penninsula
Media oil on wood board
Dated ca.  1940
Size 13 x 23 x 1 in. / 33 x 58.4 x 2.5 cm.

Notes
signed lower left; signed and titled verso; framed; minor touch ups noted

Provenance
Masters Gallery, Calgary, label verso
Estimate CAD$10,000-$15,000

Artist Francis [Franz] Hans Johnston
Title A Mood in March
Media oil on wood board
Size 20 x 24 x 1 in. / 50.8 x 61 x 2.5 cm.

Notes
signed lower left; signed, titled and inscribed 'The subject is found at Sqaw Bay, where the Laurentians end in Lake Superior' verso; framed; minor surface dirt noted

Provenance
Kensington Art Gallery, Calgary, label verso; private collection, Calgary
Estimate CAD$15,000-$20,000

Artist Francis [Franz] Hans Johnston
Title Ploughed Field
Media gouache on paper
Dated ca.  1920
Size 4 x 3.25 x 1 in. / 10.2 x 8.3 x 2.5 cm.

Notes
signed 'Frank M. Johnston' lower left; bears title and date on label verso; framed with archival mat and special glass

Provenance
Laing Galleries, Toronto and Peter Ohler Fine Arts, Vancouver, labels verso
Estimate CAD$2,500-$3,000

Artist Francis [Franz] Hans Johnston
Title Backyard of Cottage at Victoria Beach
Media gouache on paper board
Dated 1923
Size 7.5 x 5.5 x 1 in. / 19 x 14 x 2.5 cm.

Notes
label on backing bears title and date

Reference
the artist had moved to Winnipeg in 1921 to take on the position of Director of the Winnipeg School of Art as well as curator at the Winnipeg Art Gallery; see `{A Grand Eye for Glory}` pg.41 for a discussion of this time period

Provenance
D and E Lake Fine Arts, Toronto, label verso
Estimate CAD$2,800-$3,200

Artist Francis [Franz] Hans Johnston
Title Afterglow [The Sturgeon River]
Media oil on hard board
Size 20 x 24 x 1 in. / 50.8 x 61 x 2.5 cm.

Notes
signed lower left; signed, titled and inscribed 'The Sturgeon River as seen from The New Nipigon Highway. A Late March evening, although chilly, a faint promise of Spring is in the air. The rhythmic winding of the river added to the dramatic attraction of the sinking sun.' verso; some surface dirt and retouching noticed

Provenance
private collection, Calgary
Estimate CAD$6,000-$8,000

Artist Francis [Franz] Hans Johnston
Title Sunset Glory
Media colour silkscreen on paper
Dated 1931
Size 3.25 x 3.75 x 1 in. / 8.3 x 9.5 x 2.5 cm.

Notes
signed in screen lower right; archival mat

Reference
catalogue number 50 in Painters of Canada Series Exhibition of Christmas Cards, National Archives of Canada

Provenance
Masters Gallery, Calgary, label verso
Estimate CAD$250-$300

Artist Francis [Franz] Hans Johnston
Title The Hill Road Clearing
Media oil on hardboard
Size 12 x 16 x 1 in. / 30.5 x 40.6 x 2.5 cm.

Notes
signed lower left; signed and titled verso

Provenance
private collection, Edmonton
Estimate CAD$3,000-$4,000

Artist Francis [Franz] Hans Johnston
Title In the Gully
Media gouache on paper
Size 7 x 7.75 x 1 in. / 17.8 x 19.7 x 2.5 cm.

Notes
signed 'Frank H. Johnston' lower left; signed, titled and inscribed verso; authentication noted by Paul Rodrick verso

Reference
in 1926, on the urging of a numerologist friend, the artist changed his name to Franz, two years after leaving the Group of Seven; see A Grand Eye for Glory, by R.Burford Mason, pg. 61

Estimate CAD$1,200-$1,500

Artist Francis [Franz] Hans Johnston
Title Untitled - Near Georgian Bay
Media oil on paper board
Size 7.75 x 9.75 x 1 in. / 19.7 x 24.8 x 2.5 cm.

Notes
authenticated by Paul Rodrick verso

Provenance
private collection, Toronto
Estimate CAD$2,000-$2,500

Artist Francis [Franz] Hans Johnston
Title Coming of Spring
Media oil on canvas board
Dated ca.  1930
Size 25 x 30 x 1 in. / 63.5 x 76.2 x 2.5 cm.

Notes
signed lower left; signed and titled verso; restoration noted; conservator report available

Reference
partial exhibition label [OSA?] verso; in 1930 the artist started a summer school of art at Gerogian Bay after retiring as principal of the Ontario College of Art

Provenance
Roberts Gallery, Toronto and Downstairs Gallery, labels verso; Estate of Joseph L. Check, Edmonton
Estimate CAD$5,000-$7,000

Artist Francis [Franz] Hans Johnston
Title Untitled - Spring Landscape
Media gouache on paperboard
Size 7.25 x 9.75 x 1 in. / 18.4 x 24.8 x 2.5 cm.

Notes
signed lower left

Provenance
Penell Gallery, Toronto, label verso; Estate of Joseph L. Check, Edmonton
Estimate CAD$2,000-$3,000

Artist Francis [Franz] Hans Johnston
Title Untitled - Winter Algoma Woods
Media tempera on paper
Dated ca.  1918
Size 2.25 x 2.25 x 1 in. / 5.7 x 5.7 x 2.5 cm.

Notes
signed with initials lower left

Estimate CAD$600-$800

Artist Francis [Franz] Hans Johnston
Title Early Snowfall
Media oil on paper board
Size 19.75 x 24 x 1 in. / 50.2 x 61 x 2.5 cm.

Notes
signed lower right; signed, titled and inscribed vero; minor scuff on edge

Provenance
Galerie d'Art Michel Bigue, St. Sauveur-des-Monts, label verso
Estimate CAD$7,000-$9,000

Artist Francis [Franz] Hans Johnston
Title Untitled - Bringing Home the Christmas Tree
Media gouache on paperboard
Dated ca.  1923
Size 5 x 7.75 x 1 in. / 12.7 x 19.7 x 2.5 cm.

Notes
signed with initials lower right; Denglas

Reference
the artist began signing his name Franz Johnson in 1923

Estimate CAD$1,200-$1,500