JosephPlaskett - Signed pastel on paper - Figure Study - signed and dated 1966

Labelled 'PF66' verso (Paris France 1966)

One of akind pastel.

Pastelpainting in good condition but with creases on top and bottom edges (Please seethe Photographs).

Provenance -Purchased from Joseph Plaskett's artist studio.

Image sizeapprox.  19" x 24 3/4" (48cm x 63cm)

Pastel willbe well packaged with glassine over the painting and then foam core boardsfront and back and taped together for extra protection and so the pastelpainting won't move in transit.

Biography

Joseph Plaskett was born in 1918in New Westminster. Hisworks are in public art gallery collections from Prince Edward Island toVancouver Island, including the National Gallery of Canada, the Beaverbrook ArtGallery, the Winnipeg Art Gallery, the Vancouver Art Gallery and the ArtGallery of Greater Victoria. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canadain 2001 for his excellence in the field of visual art. His autobiography ASpeaking Likeness (Ronsdale Press) was published in 1999. The Plaskett Gallery,at New Westminster’s Massey Theatre, is named in his honour.

Nominated by Lawren Harris, Joseph Plaskett won the firstEmily Carr Scholarship in 1946. The award changed his life, enabling him tostudy, first at the California School of Fine Art in San Francisco and thenwith Hans Hofmann in New York and Province town. At the end of the year,recommended by both Lawren Harris and A.Y. Jackson, he accepted the post asDirector of the Winnipeg School of Art, where he taught for two years, by whichtime the lure of Europe became irresistible.

In 1957 Joseph moved to Paris. Soon after, he and hiscolleague, American artist David Hill, purchased and restored an abandonedhouse in the Marais district, uncovering its’ 15th century beauty and filling itwith treasures they found in Paris flea markets. Parties at their home werelegendary. Guests included artists, musicians, entrepreneurs and dignitariesfrom around the world. Young Canadian artists visiting Paris were alwayswelcomed into their world.

Paris provided the ideal setting for his artisticdevelopment. Mr. Plaskett produced some of his greatest paintings and pastelswhile living at 2 rue Pecquay in the Marais. A commemorative plaque outside hishome was erected by the Prefet de Paris in 2016. The plaque honours Mr.Plaskett’s contribution to the art and culture of Canada and beyond.

After David’s death in 1977, Joseph began to spend moretime in the UK, where he had inherited a farm bungalow in the centre ofSuffolk, aptly named The Cedars. He slowly transformed two acres of roughmeadow into an enchanting garden that included an orchard, a pond, an archedbridge, paths and a tea pavilion. He did all this with the help of Canadianartist, Mario Doucet, who would become his assistant and companion for theremainder of his life.

In 2000, Joseph and Mario left their Paris home and movedto The Cedars. Mr. Plaskett continued to paint well into his nineties whilebeing cared for by Mr. Doucet. Joseph died peacefully in his sleep on Sunday,September 21, 2014 at his beloved home. He was 96.