Family of Canadian artist wants painting in HBC auction to stay in Toronto

‘Lights of a City Street,’ painted by Frederic Marlett Bell-Smith in 1894. (Source: Heffel)

The first pieces of art from the Hudson’s Bay Company collection will be auctioned off Nov. 19.

Family members of one of the artists are hoping his masterpiece ends up in the right hands.

For years, Nancy Bell-Smith has enjoyed the work of her great-grandfather, Canadian artist Frederic Marlett Bell-Smith. Several of his pieces hang throughout her home near Saskatoon. Some she’s inherited and others she’s purchased.

“We are all proud of the legacy of my great-grandfather,” said Nancy, who never met Bell-Smith, but feels a strong connection to him through his art. “I love art to begin with. The fact that they’re his paintings, it’s just part of who I am and part of my history.”

Perhaps one of Bell-Smith’s most notable and largest paintings is among the HBC collection items up for sale this month.

The oil painting “Lights of a City Street” depicts the intersection of Yonge and King Streets in Toronto after rainfall in 1894, Nancy explained. It is estimated to fetch up to $150,000 at the auction.

Bell-Smith included himself, family members and the original police officer who patrolled the area in the painting.

“He (Bell-Smith) was the man buying the newspaper,” Nancy said. “The man that is tipping his hat is his son, and also we believe that his aunt Amelia is in the painting.”

Nancy has seen the piece only a handful of times in person. First, when it hung in the Simpson’s Building in Toronto, and then when it was acquired by the Hudson’s Bay Company. She’s even taken her husband and children to see it.

“I’m just kind of awestruck,” she said, adding she feels “extreme pride” when viewing the historic piece.

She’s now worried her great-grandfather’s painting will be sold to a private collector or foreign buyer that would prevent future generations from laying eyes on the work.

“I would definitely want it to stay in Canada, specifically in Toronto,” she said. “I just think it would be a shame if it was in a private collection somewhere and nobody would be able to see it.”

Nancy says she’s reached out to Toronto museums, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the City of Toronto and the Ontario premier’s office. She’s hoping one of the groups will acquire the painting and allow the public to view it.

CTV News reached out to the Art Gallery of Ontario for comment, but did not hear back. However, the gallery replied to Nancy’s letter, saying the “curatorial team is aware of the painting – as you might imagine, we follow the auctions closely – and we agree it is an evocative and historically significant work. As such we are giving it due consideration.”

“As I am sure you will understand, we are not at liberty to reveal our intentions regarding this or any other artwork at public auction that we might wish to pursue,” the email to Nancy read.

HBC has a 4,400-item collection. Bell-Smith’s painting is one of 27 pieces that will go on sale first.