Destination of '$5 painting' uncertain

Fine Art Society director Grant Bezett says he still doesn't know if a $5 painting which sold last night in Hamilton for $58,000 will be sent home to Canada.

The painting River Scene, by noted Canadian artist Lawren Harris, was sold to an unnamed private bidder at an auction, just as millions of dollars worth of Harris works are set to be auctioned in Toronto.

Bought by three members of a family at a bric-a-brac sale in Northland earlier this year for $5 before it was revealed as a work by one of Canada's most sought-after artists, it attracted a lot of interest from North America.

Measuring 23cm by 29cm, the work depicts water, rocks, shrubs and trees in shades of green, brown, blue and orange, and on the back is a label indicating it was framed in 1941 at Stedman's Book Store in Harris's hometown of Brantford, Ontario. The painting was completed around 1914.

The family who bought the painting for $5 said they found that it came from the estate of an Ontario woman who received it as a wedding gift from a wealthy relation.

"There were serious bidders from both Canada and New Zealand but, while we know who the bidder was, we don't know at this stage where the painting will end up," said Mr Bezett, the auction curator who originally attributed the painting to Harris.

Mr Bezett said that confirmation by Sotheby's in Toronto that the work was a genuine Harris had ensured that the Canadian market was fully aware of the auction.

Harris' work has been a big lure at auctions in Canada in recent years, raking in millions of dollars.

Last year a Harris oil sketch titled The Old Stump, Lake Superior sold for $C3.5 million ($4.45m) - the second-highest price ever paid for a painting in Canada.

Mr Bezett said his client was pleased with the selling price.

"Turning $5 into $50,000 is not bad. I think they were pleased with it".

- NZPA