Breadth of Vision: Works from the Estate of David Blackwood

BREADTH

October 7 - December 4th, 2025

BREADTH OF VISION

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

Cowley Abbott is honoured to collaborate with the Estate of David Blackwood to present an exclusive selling exhibition this fall. Breadth of Vision: Works from the Estate of David Blackwood offers collectors and admirers of Blackwood’s artistry a unique opportunity to acquire artworks through private sale directly from the artist’s estate.

The exhibition highlights the extraordinary range of Blackwood’s practice and a lifetime of artistic experimentation. Blackwood was a master printmaker, draughtsman and painter, which is highlighted throughout this exhibition. Featuring etchings and aquatints, watercolours, drawings, copperplates and an encaustic on built wood panel, this selection of artworks reflects the artist’s lifelong dedication to telling the stories of Newfoundland and Labrador. Among the highlights are twelve prints also on view in the Art Gallery of Ontario’s current exhibition, David Blackwood: Myth & Legend, including iconic works such as The Flora S. Nickerson in the Labrador Sea and April Iceberg Off Bragg’s Island.

This thoughtfully curated presentation celebrates Blackwood’s distinctive artistic vision—his ability to transform maritime history, folklore and personal memory into powerful and enduring images. Running from October 7th to December 4th, the exhibition offers a rare chance to view and purchase significant works spanning the artist’s career.

We are delighted to welcome avid collectors of his work to this special event honouring one of Canada’s most beloved printmakers and storytellers.

1

DAVID LLOYD BLACKWOOD

April Iceberg off Bragg’s Island, 1976 etching and aquatint signed, titled, dated 1976 and inscribed “Artist’s Proof” in the lower margin 20 x 32 ins; 50.8 x 81.3 cms

PROVENANCE

Estate of the Artist

LITERATURE

Patricia Grattan, David Blackwood: Prints 1962-1984, St. John’s, 1985, unpaginated, a similar work illustrated plate 32

William Gough, David Blackwood: Master Printmaker, Vancouver/Toronto, 2001, a similar work illustrated page 79

Katharine Lochnan, Black Ice: David Blackwood, Prints of Newfoundland , Toronto, 2011, unpaginated, a similar work illustrated plate 42

2

Passing Under the Rostellan, 2013 etching and aquatint

signed, titled, dated 2013 and numbered 26/50 in the lower margin 12 x 18 ins; 30.5 x 45.7 cms

PROVENANCE

Estate of the Artist

3

Search Party: Lost, 1970-2021 etching and aquatint

signed, titled, dated 1970-2021 and numbered 35/50 in the lower margin

31.75 x 20 ins; 80.6 x 50.8 cms

PROVENANCE

Estate of the Artist

DAVID LLOYD BLACKWOOD

The Flora S. Nickerson Down on the Labrador, 1978 etching and aquatint

inscribed on the reverse “From the Studio of David Blackwood 1941-2022. Authenticated by Anita Blackwood August 21, 2025, Port Hope, Ontario.” 20 x 16 ins; 50.8 x 40.6 cms

PROVENANCE

Estate of the Artist

LITERATURE

William Gough, David Blackwood: Master Printmaker, Vancouver/Toronto, 2001, a similar work illustrated page 113

Katharine Lochnan, Black Ice: David Blackwood, Prints of Newfoundland , Toronto, 2011, unpaginated, a similar work illustrated plate 24

Richard Osler, Doorways Out of Time: A Collector’s Journey, The Art of David Blackwood , Toronto, 2020, unpaginated, a similar work illustrated

5

DAVID LLOYD BLACKWOOD

The Flora S. Nickerson in the Labrador Sea, 1982 etching and aquatint inscribed on the reverse “From the Studio of David Blackwood 1941-2022. Authenticated by Anita Blackwood August 21, 2025, Port Hope, Ontario.” 16 x 22.75 ins; 40.6 x 57.8 cms

PROVENANCE

Estate of the Artist

LITERATURE

Katharine Lochnan, Black Ice: David Blackwood, Prints of Newfoundland , Toronto, 2011, unpaginated, a similar work illustrated plate 51

The Nickerson Passing on Our Starboard Quarter, 2019 etching and aquatint

signed, titled, dated 2019 and numbered 3/50 in the lower margin 20 x 22 ins; 50.8 x 55.9 cms

PROVENANCE

Estate of the Artist

7

DAVID LLOYD BLACKWOOD

John Stokes’ Horse, Cape Freels, 2007 etching and aquatint

signed, titled, dated 2007 and numbered 29/50 in the lower margin 20 x 16 ins; 50.8 x 40.6 cms

PROVENANCE

Estate of the Artist

This work is based on a miniature horse, approximately 12 inches tall, now in the Bonavista North Museum in Wesleyville, Newfoundland. It was made by John Stokes (1830–1906) for his grandson and originally featured a frayed rope mane and tail.

Wedding on Deer Island, 2020 etching, aquatint and watercolour

signed, titled, dated 2020 and numbered 10/50 in the lower margin 13 x 18 ins; 33 x 45.7 cms

PROVENANCE

Estate of the Artist

9

DAVID LLOYD BLACKWOOD

Wesleyville: Burning of the Methodist Church, 1976 etching and aquatint

titled, dated 1976 and inscribed on the reverse “From the Studio of David Blackwood 1941-2022. Authenticated by Anita Blackwood August 21, 2025, Port Hope, Ontario.” 22 x 28 ins; 55.9 x 71.1 cms

PROVENANCE

Estate of the Artist

LITERATURE

William Gough, The Art of David Blackwood , Toronto, 1988, unpaginated, a similar work illustrated plate 8

William Gough, David Blackwood: Master Printmaker, Vancouver/Toronto, 2001, a similar work illustrated page 13

Katharine Lochnan, Black Ice: David Blackwood, Prints of Newfoundland, Toronto, 2011, unpaginated, a similar work illustrated plate 27

10

Flatty, 2015 etching and aquatint

signed, titled, dated 2015 and numbered 9/50 in the lower margin

8 x 12 ins; 20.3 x 30.5 cms

PROVENANCE

Estate of the Artist

11

His Father Dreams II: Labrador Days, 1988 etching and aquatint signed, titled, dated 1988 and inscribed “H/C” in the lower margin 15 x 35.75 ins; 38.1 x 90.8 cms

PROVENANCE

Estate of the Artist

LITERATURE

William Gough, David Blackwood: Master Printmaker, Vancouver/Toronto, 2001, a similar work illustrated pages 110-111

12

DAVID LLOYD BLACKWOOD

Twilight Sounding, 2010 etching and aquatint

signed, titled, dated 2010 and numbered 48/50 in the lower margin

8 x 12 ins; 20.3 x 30.5 cms

PROVENANCE

Estate of the Artist

DAVID LLOYD BLACKWOOD

The Wreck of the Flora S. Nickerson, 1993 graphite

titled, dated 1993 and inscribed on the reverse “From the Studio of David Blackwood 1941-2022. Authenticated by Anita Blackwood August 21, 2025, Port Hope, Ontario.”

32 x 20 ins; 81.3 x 50.8 cms

PROVENANCE

Estate of the Artist

This is a preliminary study for The Wreck of the Flora S. Nickerson, an aquatint and etching produced in 1993 as an edition of 50.

14

DAVID LLOYD BLACKWOOD

Wesleyville, Cyril’s Kite over Blackwood’s Hill, 1996

graphite titled, dated 1996 and inscribed on the reverse “From the Studio of David Blackwood 1941-2022. Authenticated by Anita Blackwood August 21, 2025, Port Hope, Ontario.” 15 x 36 ins; 38.1 x 91.4 cms

PROVENANCE

Estate of the Artist

LITERATURE

William Gough, David Blackwood: Master Printmaker, Vancouver/Toronto, 2001, reproduced pages 18-19 Wesleyville: Cyril’s Kite over Blackwood’s Hill (etching and aquatint)

Lisa Moore, “David Blackwood: Memory & Light”, Newfoundland Quarterly, Volume 98, Number 3, 2006, reproduced pages 16-17 Wesleyville: Cyril’s Kite over Blackwood’s Hill (etching and aquatint)

This is a preliminary study for Wesleyville: Cyril’s Kite over Blackwood’s Hill, an etching and aquatint executed in 1996.

15

DAVID LLOYD BLACKWOOD

His Father Dreams II: Labrador Day, 1988 graphite titled and inscribed on the reverse “From the Studio of David Blackwood 19412022. Authenticated by Anita Blackwood August 21, 2025, Port Hope, Ontario.” 15 x 36 ins; 38.1 x 91.4 cms

PROVENANCE

Estate of the Artist

LITERATURE

William Gough, David Blackwood: Master Printmaker, Vancouver/Toronto, 2001, reproduced pages 110-111 His Father Dreams II: Labrador Days (etching and aquatint)

This is a preliminary drawing for the etching and aquatint His Father Dreams II: Labrador Days of 1988, executed in an edition of 75 (see lot 11).

16

DAVID LLOYD BLACKWOOD

His Father Dreams II: Labrador Days, Tracing, 1988 graphite on tracing paper titled and inscribed on the reverse “From the Studio of David Blackwood 19412022. Authenticated by Anita Blackwood August 21, 2025, Port Hope, Ontario”. 15 x 35.75 ins; 38.1 x 90.8 cms

PROVENANCE

Estate of the Artist

LITERATURE

William Gough, David Blackwood: Master Printmaker, Vancouver/Toronto, 2001, reproduced pages 110-111 His Father Dreams II: Labrador Days (etching and aquatint)

This is a final tracing for the etching and aquatint His Father Dreams II: Labrador Days of 1988, executed in an edition of 75 (see lot 11).

17

DAVID LLOYD BLACKWOOD

SW Mifflin Catalina, circa 2011-2013 encaustic on built wood panel dated circa 2011-2013 and inscribed “From the Studio of David Blackwood 1941-2022. Encaustic painted wood construction Authenticated by Anita Blackwood Port Hope Ontario August 2023.” on the reverse 15 x 16 x 2 ins; 38.1 x 40.6 x 5.1 cms

PROVENANCE

Estate of the Artist

This encaustic painting was a work in progress by David Blackwood, dated circa 2011-2013. Blackwood fashioned paint pots by repurposing empty tuna or salmon tins with wooden handles. These pots filled with encaustic paint would then be heated up before applying the encaustic to the built wood panel that Blackwood created.

18

DAVID LLOYD BLACKWOOD

John Stokes: His Horse, 2000 watercolour

signed and dated 2000 lower right; signed, titled, dated “August 2000” and inscribed “small wooden toy horse made by John Stokes of Cape Freels for his grandson” on the reverse 19 x 26.5 ins; 48.3 x 67.3 cms

PROVENANCE

Estate of the Artist

This work is based on a miniature horse, approximately 12 inches tall, now in the Bonavista North Museum at Wesleyville, Newfoundland. It was made by John Stokes (1830–1906) for his grandson and originally featured a frayed rope mane and tail. This watercolour relates to the etching and aquatint, John Stokes' Horse, Cape Freels, executed in 2007 (see lot 7).

19

Snow Crab, 1981 watercolour

signed and dated 1981 lower right; titled on the reverse

25.25 x 17.25 ins; 64.1 x 43.8 cms

PROVENANCE

Estate of the Artist

20

DAVID LLOYD BLACKWOOD

Spring Iceberg copperplate monotype titled and inscribed on the reverse “From the Studio of David Blackwood 19412022. Authenticated by Anita Blackwood August 21, 2025, Port Hope, Ontario.” 20 x 31.75 ins; 50.8 x 80.6 cms

PROVENANCE

Estate of the Artist

21

The “Staffordshire” King Charles Spaniel, 1990 glass plate monotype signed and dated 1990 lower left 36 x 24 ins; 91.4 x 61 cms

PROVENANCE

Estate of the Artist

ABOUT COWLEY ABBOTT

Cowley Abbott bridges the gap between traditional art auction services and the online fine art marketplace. With dedicated preview and gallery space, regular art auctions, and partnerships with national art experts, we provide both buyers and sellers of Canadian Art a unique and effective set of services which marry the traditional methods of promoting artwork and innovative means of building a collection.

Cowley Abbott has rapidly grown to be a leader in today’s competitive Canadian auction industry, holding semi-annual live auctions as well as monthly online Canadian and international art auctions. Apart from these sales, Cowley Abbott also offers services for private sales, charity auctions, and formal appraisal services. With a prime location amid a row of art galleries and directly across

the street from the Art Gallery of Ontario, Cowley Abbott also has the advantage of being immersed in a very lively art community in its day-to-day operations.

Our experienced specialists strive to form relationships with clients built on professionalism, transparency and trust. The Cowley Abbott team is keen to facilitate the entire process of selling or purchasing an artwork, from on-site visits and individual consultations, to the fall of the gavel and the final delivery of a work of art. We believe that art collecting should be approachable, educational and rewarding for both new and seasoned collectors. Several definitive details set Cowley Abbott apart to our clientele, cementing our presence in the Canadian art auction industry. We look forward to being of service.

Front cover: Lot 4, The Flora S. Nickerson Down on the Labrador, 1978

Inside front cover: Lot 11, His Father Dreams II: Labrador Days, 1988

Page 2: David Blackwood in his studio at Port Hope, Ontario, 1985

Inside back cover: Lot 2, Passing Under the Rostellan, 2013

Back cover: Lot 12, Twilight Sounding, 2010