Q & A

K.V. from Ottawa writes:

Some time back I acquired a lithograph of a painting that appears to have been painted by Frank Carmichael of the Group of Seven. The print at the bottom of the lithograph reads..."July Afternoon - Frank Carmichael" on the left side and "The Montreal Lithographing Company - Private Edition" on the right side. I have never been able to find any information on a painting by Mr. Carmichael and I am wondering if you would be able to enlighten me regarding this piece.

We asked Gabrielle Peacock to respond:

Thank you for your question. It appears you own a print, likely a photolithograph, made after an oil painting by Franklin Carmichael (1890-1945). Carmichael, a member of the Group of Seven, was also a very successful graphic and industrial designer who worked for the most prominent printing companies of the day including Rous and Mann and Sampson-Matthews. It was not uncommon for such companies to reproduce paintings in large volume print format for commercial use and promotion. In fact, Sampson-Matthews offered the "Sampson-Matthews Canadian Collection" in the 60s, composed of their highest quality silkscreens after oil paintings by noted Canadian painters with the hope of making "art" more accessible in banks, institutions, offices, schools and private homes.

We know that the Montreal Lithographing Company also reproduced art in print format. Examples have been found of old master paintings such as Raphael and other Group of Seven paintings for The McMichael Canadian Collection.

As your print indicates, the painting is in a " Private Collection" and therefore we are unable to locate it. It may have been included in a portfolio of other related prints with accompanying text. It is difficult to be sure. Value wise, because it is a reproduction, produced in large quantities and without the involvement of the artist, we would estimate it to be worth under $100.00.

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