Three paintings by Group of Seven artist Lawren Harris of scenes in Jasper National Park will be sold at the Heffel Fine Art Auction in Toronto on Nov. 19.

Robert Heffel, who owns the auction house with his brother David, said Harris was in search of a spiritual place when he came to town on a painting trip. “He found what he was looking for in Jasper,” he said.

Harris is credited with creating a distinctly Canadian style of painting, with landscape subjects ranging from Toronto to the Rocky Mountains. The rich landscape of Jasper inspired Harris to produce numerous works of the area, highlighting such landmarks as Mount Samson, Leah Peak and the Tonquin Valley.

The paintings for sale: Mountain Sketch CVI, Mt. Sampson, Maligne Lake, an oil on board from 1924, signed and on verso titled, with a conservative estimate of $200,000 - $250,000. Considered among his best mountain works, this painting is a careful blend of spare colours and Harris’ smooth brushwork.

Mountain, Tonquin Valley, Jasper, an oil on board from 1924 with a conservative estimate of $250,000 - $300,000. The painting is signed and on verso titled. Curiously, there is an on verso inscription in graphite reading “not for sale yet.”

Mountain, Jasper, III – Mountain Sketch, an oil on board, signed and titled, circa 1924, with a conservative estimate of $125,000-$175,000. Harris’ brushwork and strong lines complements this painting of Chak Peak, in the Maccarib Pass area of the Tonquin Valley.

“We’ve sold Harris oil on panel sketches, they’re good examples of his work,” Heffel said. 

The auction house’s top sale from Harris was Pine Tree and Red House, Winter, City Painting II, which sold for $2,875,000 in May 2007.