PROVENANCE
Private Collection, Montreal
Private Collection, Toronto

LITERATURE
“Exhibition of Art,” Montreal Gazette, March 23, 1908, page 4
“Art Association Awards Prizes,” Montreal Star, March 31, 1908, page 4
“Award Art Prizes,” Montreal Gazette, March 31, 1908, page 9
Memorial Exhibition of Paintings by the Late Helen G. McNicoll, RBA, ARCA, Art Association of Montreal, 1925, listed page 3

EXHIBITED
Art Association of Montreal, Annual Spring Exhibition, 1908
Art Association of Montreal, Memorial Exhibition of Paintings by the Late Helen G. McNicoll, RBA, ARCA, November 7 – December 6, 1925, catalogue #5

In 1908, Helen McNicoll was awarded the Art Association of Montreal’s inaugural Jessie Dow award for September Evening. The Montreal Gazette wrote of the event: “Miss Helen McNicoll’s art has been broadening during the past few years and her four canvases in this year’s exhibition aroused discussion and recognition from the first.” Further positive newspaper reviews followed, and McNicoll’s reputation as a talented young artist grew. Born in Toronto, McNicoll studied with William Brymner at the Art Association of Montreal, and in England at the Slade School of Fine Art. The short, staccato-like brush-strokes and dappled light effects in September Evening illustrate the influence of Impressionism in her work as she expertly captures the warm and quiet atmosphere of this autumn evening. The golden stooks of grain in the field also recall Impressionist subjects. McNicoll often included women and children in her work, and we can see two indistinct figures at the end of the path, moving into the distance. This painting is a fine example from early in the career of one of Canada’s foremost Impressionist painters.

All prices are in Canadian Dollars