From the moment Jacques Barbeau fell in love with his first E.J. Hughes painting in 1958, he never waivered in his certainty that Hughes would one day become an iconic figure on the Canadian art scene. Barbeau's voice, however, was in the minority and for many years he was one of only a handful of adventuresome collectors who sought out the artist's works. Eventually, the marketplace validated Barbeau's opinion and when Fishboats, Rivers Inlet (1946, oil on canvas) sold at auction for $920,000 in 2004, it served to solidify Hughes' place amongst the great artists of his time. Through the centuries, the passionate collector has always been central to the emergence of important artists. A Journey with E.J. Hughes provides an insightful look into the world of the collector, the artist and where their realms intersect. This very human story of art as master sheds important new light on Hughes and his work. Publisher's note