A 19th-century painting by Cornelius Krieghoff depicting a wintertime mishap in Quebec is expected to generate a flurry of interest at a Toronto auction on Tuesday.

Run off the Road in a Blizzard, which shows the aftermath of a sleigh accident, could sell for more than $100,000 at the Joyner Waddington auction of Canadian art, according to organizers.

Run Off The Road In A Blizzard is one of five Cornelius Krieghoff paintings up for auction Tuesday in Toronto.
(CNW Group/Waddington's Auctioneers & Appraisers)

"It's considered to be a major work by him," said Rob Cowley, director of Joyner Waddington's Canadian fine art.

"Whenever a major work by Krieghoff does come up, it is something of an event in the industry."

The undated painting, described as a vibrant, romantic piece, measures only 30 cm by 45 cm, but is in good condition, said Cowley.

"It's drawn attention from a lot of our major collectors," he said. "We have phone bids booked already for not only across Canada but we have collectors in Europe as well who are looking to bid on the work."

Group of Seven works featured

Krieghoff was born in Amsterdam in 1815 and lived in the United States and Montreal before settling in Chicago, where he died at the age of 56 and is buried. He is best known for his paintings of Canadian landscapes and Canadian outdoor life, many of which depict wintertime scenes.

Run Off the Road in a Blizzard is one of five Krieghoff paintings to be sold at the auction, which runs through Wednesday.

Also expected to be on the block are works by all members of the Group of Seven, including three sketches by Lawren Harris that organizers anticipate could go for $100,000 apiece.

There will also be items from major 19th- and 20th-century artists J.W. Morrice, Albert Robinson, David Milne, William Kurelak and Emily Carr, as well as modern masters Jean-Paul Lemieux, Rita Letendre, Ron Bloore, William Ronald and Jean McEwen.

With files from the Canadian Press