John Little
(1928-2024) ARCA
Previously Sold Works
JOHN GEOFFREY CARUTHERS LITTLE
Night, De La Roche Street, Montreal
oil on canvas
signed lower right; signed, titled and dated 1966 on the stretcher
22 x 28 ins ( 55.9 x 71.1 cms )
Auction Estimate: $18,000.00 - $22,000.00
Price Realized $28,800.00
Sale date: June 15th 2022
JOHN GEOFFREY CARUTHERS LITTLE
Dimanche matin, rue St. Olivier entre côte St. Augustin et côte Ste. Geneviève, Quebec
oil on canvas
signed lower right; signed, titled and dated 1976 on the stretcher
24 x 30.25 ins ( 61 x 76.8 cms )
Auction Estimate: $15,000.00 - $20,000.00
Price Realized $14,950.00
Sale date: November 23rd 2017
JOHN GEOFFREY CARUTHERS LITTLE
Une journée de mars, Rue Hibernia, Pointe St. Charles, Montréal
oil on canvas
signed lower right; signed, titled and dated 1975 on the stretcher
24 x 30 ins ( 61 x 76.2 cms )
Auction Estimate: $15,000.00 - $20,000.00
Price Realized $14,160.00
Sale date: November 20th 2018
JOHN GEOFFREY CARUTHERS LITTLE
Côte St. Marc, Quebec
oil on canvas board
signed lower right; signed, titled and dated 1968 on the reverse
12 x 16 ins ( 30.5 x 40.6 cms )
JOHN GEOFFREY CARUTHERS LITTLE
Les arbres de Rue Berri, Montreal
oil on canvas
signed lower right; signed, titled and dated 1973 on the stretcher
22 x 28 ins ( 55.9 x 71.1 cms )
Auction Estimate: $10,000.00 - $15,000.00
Price Realized $10,620.00
Sale date: September 24th 2020
JOHN GEOFFREY CARUTHERS LITTLE
Rue Plessis next to Metro Metal Looking South to Logan
signed lower right; signed, titled and dated 2011 on the reverse; oil on canvas
10 x 15 ins ( 25.4 x 38.1 cms )
Auction Estimate: $8,000.00 - $10,000.00
Price Realized $10,200.00
Sale date: June 8th 2023
JOHN GEOFFREY CARUTHERS LITTLE
Patinore Pointe St. Charles, rue Grand Trunk
oil on canvas
signed lower right; signed, titled and dated 2013 on the stretcher
12 x 18 ins ( 30.5 x 45.7 cms )
Auction Estimate: $12,000.00 - $15,000.00
Price Realized $9,440.00
Sale date: November 19th 2019
JOHN GEOFFREY CARUTHERS LITTLE
Chez Ma Tante, Fulford and Workman, St-Henri, Montreal
oil on canvas board
signed lower right; signed, titled and dated 1968 on the reverse
10 x 11.75 ins ( 25.4 x 29.8 cms )
Auction Estimate: $6,000.00 - $8,000.00
Price Realized $8,260.00
Sale date: November 19th 2019
JOHN GEOFFREY CARUTHERS LITTLE
Flaque d’eau - Rue Logan, Montreal
oil on canvas
signed lower right; signed, titled and dated 1983 on the stretcher
12 x 16 ins ( 30.5 x 40.6 cms )
Auction Estimate: $6,000.00 - $8,000.00
Price Realized $8,260.00
Sale date: November 19th 2019
JOHN GEOFFREY CARUTHERS LITTLE
Dimanche matin, rue de Bullion, Montreal
oil on canvas
signed lower right; signed, titled and dated 1970 on the reverse
8 x 10 ins ( 20.3 x 25.4 cms )
Auction Estimate: $5,000.00 - $7,000.00
Price Realized $7,800.00
Sale date: December 3rd 2020
JOHN GEOFFREY CARUTHERS LITTLE
Crescent Street After Snowstorm
oil on canvas
signed lower right; signed, titled, dated 1997 and inscribed “From 40 year old sketchbook - before brutal bldgs on Sherbrooke Street” on the stretcher
12 x 16 ins ( 30.5 x 40.6 cms )
Auction Estimate: $6,000.00 - $8,000.00
Price Realized $7,080.00
Sale date: September 24th 2020
JOHN GEOFFREY CARUTHERS LITTLE
Coin Marie-Anne et Drolet, Montreal
oil on canvas
signed lower right; signed, titled and dated 1974 on the stretcher
12 x 16 ins ( 30.5 x 40.6 cms )
Auction Estimate: $6,000.00 - $8,000.00
Price Realized $6,490.00
Sale date: November 19th 2019
JOHN GEOFFREY CARUTHERS LITTLE
Rue St. Patrice, Quebec
oil on canvas
signed lower right; signed, titled and dated 1969 on the stretcher
8.25 x 11 ins ( 21 x 27.9 cms )
JOHN GEOFFREY CARUTHERS LITTLE
Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal
oil on canvas
signed lower right; signed and dated 1968 on the stretcher; titled on a gallery label on the reverse
12 x 16 ins ( 30.5 x 40.6 cms )
Consignments
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John Little Biography
(1928-2024) ARCA
Born in Montreal, P.Q. in 1928. He studied two years at the Montreal Museum of Fine arts under Dr. Arthur Lismer and Goodridge Roberts. Subsequently he went to New York where he attended the Art Students' League under Will Barnet and Frank J. Reilley. It was also there in 1949 that he worked as an assistant to Mr. Ray Bailley on the now defunct comic strip "Bruce Gentry".
Returning to Montreal he became a draughtsman in his father's architectural firm (Luke & Little) in 1951. He married in 1953 and turned exclusively to painting. His street scenes won him wide acclaim. His paintings of old Montreal and Quebec City streets, houses and countryside were exhibited at the Watson Art Galleries.
During a solo exhibition at this gallery in 1957 the Montreal “Gazette” noted, "His vision is clear and his interpretation of his subjects is solid and literal. His buildings are solidly based, bear the marks of age and are recorded with a laudable attention to drawing. The last-mentioned quality apparently presents him no problems. His figures have animation, there is a convincing sense of movement in the crowds and the impression of traffic congestion in narrow streets is capitally conveyed .’’
Dorothy Pfeiffer reviewing his work in 1964 noted, "Those bemoaning the seemingly ruthless demolition of hundreds of Montreal's gracious old-world homes and other buildings, the disappearance in the name of progress of various little private nooks and parks, and the often callous disposal of dignified stone pillars and amusing cornices will gain nostalgic pleasure from John Little's show, for he had dedicated his painting to the preservation of such items for posterity. Yet so spirited and relaxed is his painting technique, that his work can in no manner today be labelled as merely documentary. He paints city streets ankle-deep in slush, where his not-quite-ripe olive green mixture carpets pavements with a mélange resembling Quebec limestone. He peoples his old streets and secluded sylvan sites with groups of today's spirited adults and children. Three important qualities it certainly contains: assurance, individuality and artistic honesty."
He has done covers for “Maclean's Magazine” in which his great sense of humour blends with his artistic abilities to depict Canadians at work and play. He is represented in the National Gallery of Canada, Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Sir George Williams University Collection of Art, and many private collections.
John Little became an Associate of the Royal Canadian Academy in 1961, and then a full member of the Academy in 1973. He is a highly respected artist, and his works are very much sought-after in today's market for important Canadian art.
Source: "A Dictionary of Canadian Artists, Volume I: A-F", compiled by Colin S. MacDonald, Canadian Paperbacks Publishing Ltd, Ottawa, 1977
