Ernest Sawford-Dye (1873-1965)
Title ” A Trail in the Laurentians Quebec “
Size 17 1/8″ x 14 1/8″ sheet ( 22 3/4″ x 19 3/4″ frame is available ) ………$1395.00 Canadian
Rendered with elegant restraint and quiet charm, this watercolour by Ernest Sawford-Dye depicts a horse-drawn sleigh making its way along a snow-covered trail beneath a towering rock face, deep in the Laurentian Hills. The artist conveys the crisp winter air and the hush of the northern landscape with remarkable subtlety—capturing the rhythmic stride of the horses, the play of light and shadow on the snow, and the still grandeur of the setting.
Born in Norwich, England, Sawford-Dye studied at the Norwich School of Art and the Royal Institute of Watercolour Painters before immigrating to Canada and settling in New Liskeard, Ontario, in 1913. He gained recognition for his finely observed watercolours of northern Ontario and the Laurentian landscapes of Quebec, capturing the character of rural life and native wildlife with sensitivity and precision.
This work exemplifies Sawford-Dye’s mature style: a refined command of the medium and a direct, sympathetic vision of the Canadian landscape, grounded in the academic discipline and compositional clarity of his British training.
The piece retains its original sheet size, is well preserved, with no evident damage or heavy browning visible, only modest toning around the outer perimeter edges.
Copyright of the artist and or the artist estate.