Roland Gissing

Canadian [1895-1967]

Alberta Society of Artists

Roland Gissing was born in Willersey (County Worcester, England) in 1895. He came from a talented family: his grandfather was a published poet and author; his father and uncle prominent writers. Art was a favoured subject for young Roland during his school years, and drawing was a frequent pastime. It would be exposure to the “moving pictures” and their images of cowboy life and the wild frontier that became the catalyst that drew Gissing to Canada. 

After spending some time on a farm learning to ride, the young man arrived in Calgary in 1913, at the age of 18, and never looked back. He spent the next 10 years working at various ranches between Peace River and Mexico, though he continued to sketch and draw, mostly Western and Cowboy scenes.

When Gissing made the decision to become an artist in 1923, art in Alberta was at its dawn, and limited to visiting artists. Through R. L. Harvey (artist and then supervisor of Art Calgary Schools), Gissing was introduced to Leonard Richmond, a prominent British artist painting locally for the CPR. Richmond became Gissing’s instructor. As was the fashion at the time, Gissing was trained traditionally, and worked in the delicate mediums of pastel and watercolour. Interest in art, and the art community itself, grew between 1926 and 1929. 

During these early years, Gissing’s work impressed Ernie Richardson (manager of the Calgary Stampede & Exhibition), who granted the artist a one-man show. Gissing ultimately selected 52 of his favourite works for the show, which was held February 1929 at the Calgary Public Library in Central Park. The exhibit was received with such enthusiasm that a second exhibition was held later that year, by art dealer Jack Booth.

These early successes launched Roland Gissing’s career. At the onset of the 1930s, Gissing began to transition into oils, which he felt provided a greater colour scope and were less restrictive than pastels or watercolours. He experimented heavily with this new medium and his work visually transformed, over time, achieving his trademark style. 

Roland Gissing’s career would be long and prodigious, spanning an incredible six decades. Gissing became one of Alberta’s best recognized and most sought-after artists – truly “the people’s painter”. Through his scenes of mountains, ranchlands, harvests and rolling foothills Gissing developed the iconography of Alberta landscape art.

Literature: “Roland Gissing: The Peoples’ Painter”; Foran & Houlton, The University of Calgary Press; 1988.

Roland Gissing photo portrait

Some Results from our Previous Auctions

Roland Gissing

17,825.00
Price Realized: $

Artist: Roland Gissing

Title: RANGE COUNTRY

Date: 1960

Medium: oil on canvas

Dimensions: 28 x 42 in. (71.1 x 106.7 cm)

Notes:

signed, titled & dated
Note: Depicts a view looking southeast towards the Sweet Grass Hills on the Alberta-Montana border.

10,000.00
Estimate:
12,500.00
 - 

LOT: 411

Auction: 2010 June | Hodgins Art Auctions

16,100.00
Price Realized: $

Artist: Roland Gissing

Title: MOUNT MURCHISON

Medium: oil on canvas

Dimensions: 34 x 44 in. (86.4 x 111.8 cm)

Notes:

signed
Provenance: Commissioned directly from Gissing

9,000.00
Estimate:
12,000.00
 - 

LOT: 267

Auction: 2009 May | Hodgins Art Auctions

12,285.00
Price Realized: $

Artist: Roland Gissing

Title: OPEN RANGE WITH APPROACHING STORM, SOUTHERN ALBERTA

Medium: oil on canvas

Dimensions: 34 x 48 in. (86.4 x 121.9 cm)

Notes:

signed
Provenance: Former corporate collection, Corby Distilleries, Toronto; Meagher’s Distillery, Montreal (Meagher / Gillespies label verso)

9,000.00
Estimate:
12,000.00
 - 

LOT: 122

Auction: 2015 May | Hodgins Art Auctions

9,775.00
Price Realized: $

Artist: Roland Gissing

Title: HARVEST IN THE FOOTHILLS

Medium: oil on canvas

Dimensions: 20 x 27 in. (50.8 x 68.6 cm)

Notes:

signed & titled

5,000.00
Estimate:
7,000.00
 - 

LOT: 302

Auction: 2011 November | Hodgins Art Auctions

9,775.00
Price Realized: $

Artist: Roland Gissing

Title: FALL ON THE ELBOW

Date: 1932

Medium: oil on canvas

Dimensions: 23.5 x 30 in. (59.7 x 76.2 cm)

Notes:

signed
Provenance: The Hett Gallery, Edmonton

5,000.00
Estimate:
7,000.00
 - 

LOT: 79

Auction: 2008 June | Hodgins Art Auctions

9,200.00
Price Realized: $

Artist: Roland Gissing

Title: HARVEST TIME

Date: 1949

Medium: oil on canvas

Dimensions: 28 x 40 in. (71.1 x 101.6 cm)

Notes:

signed, titled & dated

9,000.00
Estimate:
12,000.00
 - 

LOT: 237

Auction: 2011 November | Hodgins Art Auctions

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