Lot #14: Vera Brady (Canadian, mid-20th Century) – "Gateway to Beauty" (1962)

Vera Brady (Canadian, mid-20th Century) – "Gateway to Beauty" (1962) An Exceptional, Authentic Mid-Century Canadian Regional Landscape Painting Item Description Offered for auction is a captivating mid-century oil on canvas board titled "Gateway to Beauty" by noted Ontario artist Vera Brady, dated July 1962. This scenic, atmospheric work captures a classic Canadian vista featuring the historic Wasauksing Swing Bridge (historically known as the Rose Point Swing Bridge) near Parry Sound, Ontario. The composition beautifully portrays the deep blue waters of the Georgian Bay South Channel, complete with mid-century watercraft navigating the waterway under an expansive, textured sky. Framed by the iconic rocky, pine-lined shores characteristic of the 30,000 Islands region, this painting is an exceptional capsule of Ontario's rich cottage country history and seasonal boating culture. Artist Profile & Provenance Vera Brady was an integral mid-century figure in the Northern Ontario art community. She was a founding member of the Parry Sound Arts Association and a close associate of renowned regional artists Bert Weir and Elena Zebrauskaite (Loon Studios). Brady actively exhibited her work alongside legendary Canadian figures such as Doris McCarthy, Carl Beam, and Arthur Shilling, making this an excellent acquisition piece for collectors of historical Ontario art and regional Americana/Canadiana. Specifications & Details • Title: Gateway to Beauty • Artist: Vera Brady (Signed lower right corner) • Date of Creation: July 1962 • Medium: Oil on compressed canvas board panel • Support: Original M. Grumbacher No. 633 "Academy" Canvas Panel (Made in U.S.A. / Toronto) • Artwork Dimensions: 18" x 24" (45.7 cm x 61.0 cm) • Overall Framed Dimensions: 31" x 25" (78.7 cm x 63.5 cm) • Framing: Housed in its heavy, premium mid-century tiered multi-layered solid wood frame. Includes original structural backing stamps, hand-written artist attribution tape label, and vintage iron hanging wire. Condition Report • Artwork: Excellent vintage condition. The oil paint retains vibrant coloration, crisp impasto texture, and structural integrity. No visible signs of canvas board warping, cracking, or surface paint flaking. • Frame: Strong and structurally sound vintage condition with a beautiful natural patina. Minor age-appropriate wear to the wooden edges, completely consistent with its 60+ year age. Ready to hang Nearest intersection Younge Street and Stelees Avenue Dimensions: 31" x 25" (78.7 cm x 63.5 cm) Pickup category timeslot {A}