Cornelius David Krieghoff 1815 - 1872

Collection of Colonel Coulson, London, England, 1860

Watson Art Galleries, Montreal

Private Collection, Ottawa

This painting is in remarkable condition. It has been re-lined, and the surface is even and clean. There appear to be two pea-sized areas of blooming, one in the extreme top right corner and another one inch to the left of that on the top edge of the canvas, but neither floresce under black light. Two small brown spots in the snow in the foreground do fluoresce, but may be surface dirt.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

William Watson, the Montreal dealer, wrote a note affixed to this painting:

This excellent little canvas represents a scene very familiar to the artist during his residence at Longueuil.  Here he is seen as the master painter of ice and snow, the perfect colour and tone of the blocks of ice cut on the sleigh being an example of this.  This scene was painted near Longueuil, the outline of Mount Royal being seen in the distance.  The canvas was completed about 1850...

On February 15, 1850, an advertisment of a sale in Montreal of Kreighoff's paintings appeared in the Morning Courier and notes that one of the paintings was 'Ice Cutting Opposite Montreal'.  A similar image was also made into a colour lithograph.